Police call for sheep worrying tougher penalties

[Big Al]

I spent many years on a sheep farm and this is something I feel very strongly about.

As we enter lambing season some mainland UK police forces are trying to build a case for tougher penalties for sheep worrying. I speculate that urbanite idiots using your networks of public footpaths are primarily at fault. As people who are interested in all aspects of country life, I urge you to read the article and do what you can to help the police as they build their case.

 

http://www.fwi.co.uk/news/police-seek-tougher-penalties-for-sheep-worrying.htm

Edited March 26, 2017 by Big Al

[johnphilip]

I understand were your coming from Big Al, i rent a cottage in the middle of a farm. lambing is my favorite time of year, so love to see the new lambs and help out as much as i can. Its the poor pet ones i realy feel for.

[Red-dot]

....only one thing worse than a farmer, that's two of them!

[Cranfield]

....only one thing worse than a farmer, that's two of them!

 

Thats a strange comment.

 

My experience of many sheep worrying incidents is that most were caused by totally unaccompanied dogs running loose.

[kyska]

....only one thing worse than a farmer, that's two of them!

Eh?

[Geedubu187]

comment deleted

 

Edited March 26, 2017 by Geedubu187

[Red-dot]

Only a jest lads!!!

[guzzicat]

Only a jest lads!!!

Poor taste!

[Red-dot]

Oh well. Must try harder?

[Big Al]

 

Thats a strange comment.

 

My experience of many sheep worrying incidents is that most were caused by totally unaccompanied dogs running loose.

You are probably right, but one incident sticks in my mind from about 3 years ago.

 

I witnessed one in the Mourne Mountains a few years ago. The dog's owners had their golden retriever running free while walking up one of the main access routes to the hills. I was walking down towards them. Ted (my lab) was on my lead as there a few sheep about. The other walkers were oblivious to the dog who was starting to show too much interest in a group of ewes just the other side of a small stream, maybe 50 yards away.

 

I could see what was about to happen and started to run down the track towards them. While i was still some distance off, the dog bolted for the sheep and disappeared into thd small river valley after an unfortunate ewe. Despite watching events, neither owner moved. I ran past them and into the valley. The dog had the ewe by a hind leg but let go when 17 stone of shouting angry me came straight for him. The ewe ran off with blood coming from a wound on its hind leg.

 

I approached the owners who tried to tell me their dog was only "playing " with the sheep. My response made it ckear that wasnt the case. I gave them my spare dog lead as they had none of their own and they went on their way.

Edited March 26, 2017 by Big Al

[washerboy]

I go 15 miles around trip to break my dogs to sheep, they have weekly refreshers , walking among sheep.

I can't risk my dog not being stock proof.

Just can't understand why people don't think it's a priority when owning a dog and living among farming communities

[Big Al]

I go 15 miles around trip to break my dogs to sheep, they have weekly refreshers , walking among sheep.

I can't risk my dog not being stock proof.

Just can't understand why people don't think it's a priority when owning a dog and living among farming communities

Good man. All my dogs are safe with sheep too but always use the lead on the hill. Two reasons - to set an example to to the numpties and to show farmers I'm responsible.

[Walker570]

You cannot get a cure or drug from the doctor to cure STUPID and the majority of tree hugging townies with dogs are a menace. I was sat up quietly waiting for a chance at a muntie a week or so ago when deer started to race about the wood, munties with tails up and then a big yellow lab appeared about a yard behind a muntie doe and vanished in the undergrowth. It was at least 400yrds from a public footpath. When the Game Keeper caught up with the woman she did have it on a lead but he made it very clear what his thoughts where. That estate has a large sheep population and also cows and young calves about. The area in question has a multitude of signs asking dog owners to keep their dogs on leads. You can't cure it I'm afraid. How often do you see someone walking a dog with one of those stupid straps across the nose, when a smart smack across the backside with a young thin stingy nut stick would have that dog walking to heal in short time. Have a friend who has a superb working head strong dog. Gave that advise and she said " Oh I couldn't do that". The dog is now totally it's own boss and out of control, all for one just ONE short sharp lesson.

[ben0850]

We are lambing at the moment, I politely asked a couple yesterday to put their dog on a lead only to get the usual 'he won't hurt the sheep' my response of 'you might know that but the sheep dont' often gets the right response.

[Twistedsanity]

I think education would be useful, most folk are extremely Ignorant of the damage their pet pooch can do around sheep, maybe a big sign with a graphic picture of rover with a shotgun wound would work like the nasty images they put on cigarettes now? Trouble is any muppet can go get a dog despite being completely clueless about animal husbandry

[wandringstar]

I see people with dogs off leads in the fields hassling livestock a fair bit, I see it in the streets, I have had them in my garden, I go in a park and get harassed, I see bags of **** swinging on branches, and thrown on the pavement, I am sick of 'responsible' dog owners and their 'rights' to enjoy an animal, with zero regard for mine, they are only responsible if someones watching.

 

Probably the wrong site to be anti dog owner.............but yeh, after years and years of having to put up with it, that's what I am.

Edited March 26, 2017 by wandringstar

[paul65]

How often do you see someone walking a dog with one of those stupid straps across the nose, when a smart smack across the backside with a young thin stingy nut stick would have that dog walking to heal in short time.

 

And if it doesn't, a proper beating with something heavier would do the job right? And probably do the same thing would keep one's kids in line too.

[saddler]

A dog in my street is off the lead on most walks & has bitten at least two adults.

 

As one was the g/f & we reported this to the Police, WE are in the wrong ss far as the locals & the dogs owners see it.

Massive backlash of false reports against US & visits from SSPCA, Community Wardens, Police, etc.; all within a couple of weeks of us making the complaint.

(we're incomers to the village)

 

A couple of years later, said dog STILL goes for walks without a lead, even though the owners have been given warnings about this several times.

 

Yes, stricter penalties ARE needed....but NOT just rurally.

 

The blight of urban dog faeces on paths & in parks needs sorting out.

Paradoxically, the councils that ban dogs from beaches need a talking to; most allow all sorts of waste to be pumped out to sea, or into rivers.

[Vince Green]

Its not just worrying farm animals. When my kids were young we couldn't let them run around the local park because of dog mess everywhere.

 

Dogs should not be allowed to run wild anywhere. Its not about dogs its about dog owners.

 

A few big fines would sort it. I know of an elderly man in my very close location who walks his dog about 6am and gets it to poop on the verges. He appears adverse to picking it up. He has been visited and warned by the council,it must be a half a dozen times now. Had many rows with neighbours in the street. Nothing has been done!

 

No dogs allowed on a field with sheep etc without the farmers written permission or £500 fine. Sorted

[saddler]

...I know of an elderly man in my very close location who walks his dog about 6am and gets it to poop on the verges. He appears adverse to picking it up. He has been visited and warned by the council,it must be a half a dozen times now. Had many rows with neighbours in the street. Nothing has been done!

The solution was talked about light heartedly on Radio 2 the other nite, around stuff folk did as a kid, or something like that (missed the start)

 

A few callers identified with the 1970's example from one bloke.

He'd use a golf wedge to return the doggy truffles to serial offending owners...

 

Not saying get up at 6.01 for some golf practice on the same bit of grassland...esp that early, trying to focus, hitting the wrong lump on the ground, etc.

Accidents might happen. Folk may need to open a regular customer account at the dry cleaners, etc.

[12gauge82]

How often do you see someone walking a dog with one of those stupid straps across the nose, when a smart smack across the backside with a young thin stingy nut stick would have that dog walking to heal in short time. Have a friend who has a superb working head strong dog. Gave that advise and she said " Oh I couldn't do that". The dog is now totally it's own boss and out of control, all for one just ONE short sharp lesson.

Whacking dogs with sticks is not the way to train them, maybe you just need to reword your post? It comes across wrong reading it.

Agreed something needs doing in this country with some dog owners, just looking in any rehoming shelter or dog pound tells you how many idiots who shouldn't own dogs are out there, I feel very sorry for sheep farmers, I'm never one to advocate legislation but in this case they could do with some help.

[bruno22rf]

There is no need to hit a dog with a stick - a gentle tap on the nose if the dog starts to "overtake" you when on the "heel" command with a thin stick is all that is needed - if the dog starts to overtake you again then simply whipping the stick thru the air so that he/she can hear the sound and reaffirming "heel" should do the trick.

Edited March 27, 2017 by bruno22rf