pigeonshooter76 Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 A Derbyshire couple have said they want the law changed to make it illegal for dogs to be shot on farmland. The plea from Tony and Susan Dracup, of Hartshorne, came after two of their pets were killed by a farmer. Farmer John Collier said the dogs had "devastated the area" and had frightened his cattle on several occasions at his Hatton farm. Derbyshire police said they had investigated the shooting of the dogs, but were not taking any further action. Farmers are legally allowed to shoot a dog caught worrying livestock. 'Our children' Mrs Dracup, who said she believed their dogs were chasing rabbits, added she was "totally devastated and shocked" when she discovered Tilly and Suki had been killed. "If the dogs were that much of a nuisance to him, why didn't he tell us and complain to us? "But to actually, in cold blood, fire shotguns at them and slaughter them is beyond belief." Mrs Dracup said they had not had complaints from people about their "gentle natured creatures", who were "our children", causing problems in the area. Cattle farmer Mr Collier said he was within his rights legally and morally to shoot the dogs. "I saw the dogs hounding the cattle, two of which had aborted," he said. "On numerous times I've had the cattle chased by the same dogs and several times I've thrown things at them, shouted and chased them off. "We've never seen the owners with the dogs, they were always on their own." He added that he would kill other dogs to protect his cattle in the future. Under The Animals Act 1971 someone who has killed or injured a dog that was worrying or about to worry livestock has a legal defence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silpig5 Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 i heard this on old jeramy vine today and couldnt help but think why if this dog such a cherished pet was it loose and not under control . as a city child , when dog licences where still in , even i knew as a kid that dogs get killed if they worry animals . why dont these owners ? lack of education ? or lack of common sense ? 2 aborted cows might not seam a lot , but in reality at slaughter age its a huge deal to the farmer adi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zabala Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 The owners of these two dogs let them down. Owners should ensure dogs are kept under proper control at all times and not allowed to run wild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratman2 Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 I have to aggree with the two comments above. And I think this said by the farmer speaks volumes. "On numerous times I've had the cattle chased by the same dogs and several times I've thrown things at them, shouted and chased them off. "We've never seen the owners with the dogs, they were always on their own." And this statement by the owner tells me she had no idea where her "children" where. Mrs Dracup, who said she believed their dogs were chasing rabbits, added she was "totally devastated and shocked" when she discovered Tilly and Suki had been killed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 the owners of the dogs should be banned from keeping dogs in the future,as they are to blame for the death's.its beyond me how people think its alright to let there dogs roam all over peoples land.cows that see a dog on a lead don't usually bother,but when they see a loose dog they are on edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unapalomablanca Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Theres too many arrogant dog owners who think its their right to threaten other people with their stupid animals. If its not barking, messing everywhere and jumping up and slobbering all over you, its cocky owners who refuse to put them on a lead when in a public area. Im glad this farmer did what he did and as for referring to dogs as your 'children' well that just about sums the idiots up. When it comes to animals i would back a farmers view every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Theres too many arrogant dog owners who think its their right to threaten other people with their stupid animals. If its not barking, messing everywhere and jumping up and slobbering all over you, its cocky owners who refuse to put them on a lead when in a public area. Im glad this farmer did what he did and as for referring to dogs as your 'children' well that just about sums the idiots up. When it comes to animals i would back a farmers view every time. Whilst it's not that black and white in my opinion, I most certainly back the farmer in this situation. It's not a legal requirement to put them on a lead in a public area, and not everyone has access to acres of private land to exercise their dogs on, myself included. When I take the dogs out it is to exercise them and they don't get properly exercised on lead, as such they are mostly off lead be that in a public town park or on a public footpath through farmland. They are however under control. Both of mine come straight back to me on command. When in close contact with livestock they are both brought to walk at heel. If you can do this then I personally don't feel it's necessary to put them on a lead every 10 minutes or when a situation MAY arise. I do also feel though that there are a helluva lot of badly/untrained dogs out there and wonder how that could be resolved? Compulsory puppy/training classes, better education? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 i heard this on old jeramy vine today and couldnt help but think why if this dog such a cherished pet was it loose and not under control . Just out of interest, what were the views about the incident from the radio listeners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSPUK Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 From the replies so far there are a lot of intelligent people who don't listen to Jeramy Whinnnnnne. the snot nosed voice infected wat. dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silpig5 Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Just out of interest, what were the views about the incident from the radio listeners farmer styles was on , defending his actions and quiet right to , the stupid dog owner whined on about how he had no right , a phone call from a tree hugger who i think lives in a bed sit in central london and never seen a tree and numerous txts saying they support farmer . there was a couple of calls from tuff guys who just wanted to sound hard on the radio , about how the farmer wouldnt dare shoot their dogs . his show does have some good points , but it gets me some funny looks whilst i shout at stupid people on the radio . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holly Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Just out of interest, what were the views about the incident from the radio listeners i listened to it, one person who rang in said "if he shot my dog i would have shot him" a few were on the farmers side and rightly so , it was not the first time ,they were letting them roam the fields all the time and the farmer had asked them to keep there dogs under control many times ,which they ignored ,so he sorted it lawfully ,when he shot them the owners were no where to be seen and by the time they arrived he was already in conversation with the police informing them of his actions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unapalomablanca Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Whilst it's not that black and white in my opinion, I most certainly back the farmer in this situation. It's not a legal requirement to put them on a lead in a public area, and not everyone has access to acres of private land to exercise their dogs on, myself included. When I take the dogs out it is to exercise them and they don't get properly exercised on lead, as such they are mostly off lead be that in a public town park or on a public footpath through farmland. They are however under control. Both of mine come straight back to me on command. When in close contact with livestock they are both brought to walk at heel. If you can do this then I personally don't feel it's necessary to put them on a lead every 10 minutes or when a situation MAY arise. I do also feel though that there are a helluva lot of badly/untrained dogs out there and wonder how that could be resolved? Compulsory puppy/training classes, better education? I can assure you its black and white when you live next door to a thick arrogant owner who upset my peace of 7 years by moving in with her poxy westies and getting it to the stage of me having to involve the council. The lazy bitch has been next door 3 years now and the dogs have yet to be walked (no exaggeration). She has two twentysomethings who also cant be bothered to walk them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 For me the key things are; 1. The dogs were shot on the farmers land; 2 The dogs 'parents' didnt know where they were. If you have a dog you have a duty of care which includes abiding by the law of the land. I agree with the chap who said they were undoubtedly responsible for the deaths of their 'children'. I would ban them from any further pet owneship. I would also say to the farmer - there are very many who support you in what must have been a difficult final deciion. Most farmers these days are actually animal lovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 the owners should have control over there dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 his show does have some good points , but it gets me some funny looks whilst i shout at stupid people on the radio . I do that too! Anyone know what kind of dog they were? I am fully in support of farmers shooting dogs that worry livestock. Two weekends ago I had to stitch a number of wounds on a sheep that had been attacked by a GSD owned (wait for it) by a policeman! Owner very apologetic and paying for the vet fees and promise to never let it happen again. I have my doubts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hushpower Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 1&2 year old whippet crosses they were according to the daily telegraph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosshair Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 On todays paper another woman killed while walking her dog through cattle, seems like people never learn, the countryside is not a playground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 I support the farmer but I do recognise that they have a duty to not over react and bring the issue into disrepute. A few farmers in the past have been a bit trigger happy but its a difficult subject to get a balanced view on. If you don't want to get your dogs shot don't let them run free on farmers land seems to be fair. Its his land and his livelyhood. If they were not trespassing they certainly weren't invited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pheasant Feeder Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Most people in this country fail to realise that, the field full of cows/sheep is not just a pretty place to walk the dog its the work place where the farmer has to make his living, and each of the animals has a value to the farm business. Just another example of the ignorrance of todays society about what happens in the countryside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the enigma Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 If they were chasing livestock,they deserved both barrels. Once a dog gets a taste for worrying livestock,there's only one way to stop them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 (edited) I cannot imagine the farmer was exactly pleased about shooting pet dogs but it seems he was driven to doing so . As above ; farmland is anything but recreational , where I shoot and trap I have to watch my back very closely as the cattle are not to be messed with . Edited October 21, 2011 by vole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 The farmer made a very balanced statement about out of contol dogs getting cattle stired up then a sweet old dear walking her chiwawa or the likes through the field on a lead and getting a ton of angry cow on her case as a result. I have never seen direct evidence personally of stock aborting through such stress though heard much more talk of it. Cows are dangerous things when roused and he made a valid argument about these cows ignooring his own dog and other dogs - Yet also said these particular dogs had created trouble in the past for him many times, the "parents" denied this. The dogs were a beagle and a wippet cross i believe not the sort of dogs you would let wander about untrained in the countryside. I realy liked his statement when asked if the actual shooting caused him any difficulties, he replied "no i got in good and close to do the job properly". It reminds me of an interview of a finnish sniper " did shooting all those Rusian soldiers create any personal issues for you?" he replied " yes they startted to run in zig zags and hide behind rocks, that made it more difficult for me to kill them" Shouldn't laugh i know but it does illustate the differing points of view quite well i am sure Mr Vine was fishing for a different sort of answer The farmer made a very balanced statement about out of contol dogs getting cattle stired up then a sweet old dear walking her chiwawa or the likes through the field on a lead and getting a ton of angry cow on her case as a result. I have never seen direct evidence personally of stock aborting through such stress though heard much more talk of it. Cows are dangerous things when roused and he made a valid argument about these cows ignooring his own dog and other dogs - Yet also said these particular dogs had created trouble in the past for him many times, the "parents" denied this. The dogs were a beagle and a wippet cross i believe not the sort of dogs you would let wander about untrained in the countryside. I realy liked his statement when asked if the actual shooting caused him any difficulties, he replied "no i got in good and close to do the job properly". It reminds me of an interview of a finnish sniper " did shooting all those Rusian soldiers create any personal issues for you?" he replied " yes they startted to run in zig zags and hide behind rocks, that made it more difficult for me to kill them" Shouldn't laugh i know but it does illustate the differing points of view quite well i am sure Mr Vine was fishing for a different sort of answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Hey how did i do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Hey how did i do that it was that good you said it twice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Hey how did i do that gets the point over twice.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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