Comments on: Dogs and sheep / lamb worrying

By: daylight_gambler

daylight_gambler — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:28:56 +0000

Glad to hear the police are finally investigating it properly (even if you have had to force their hand).

I cannot imagine what you have gone through – the steps you took to try and find them just shows how much the dogs meant to you. Best of luck in your fight to get justice and to stop it happening to anyone else.

By: David Heap

David Heap — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:10:14 +0000

The Police are as much use as a chocolate tea pot.The way our Solicitors see it, because he could not prove that they was worrying it is classed as Criminal Damage ie destruction of property.He knew we was out everyday in the worse weather conditions ever known round here looking for the dog’s, we contacted the Police, dog wardens, every dog’s homes and Charities we could find. We even had it broadcast on Radio Leeds as well as put a £1,000 reward up. It was only the fact that our ad was seen in the local paper by another neighbour, who knew he must tell us that we found out. When we went round to see this entity he denied it, then tried to blame it on a totally innocent neighbour, then admitted to it. He said they had been worrying, yet no dead or injured sheep, no reporting of the worrying to the police, no vets reports, nothing. We asked for the dog’s bodies back for burial, he refused THEN said ‘if you do not get off my farm I will do the same to you as I did to those dog’s’ with this we got into our Land Rover and went straight to the Police. THEY made us wait for an hour and a half, THEN two days later went round to speak with this entity. THEN told us it was a ‘civil’ matter. My wife complained and complained, top and bottom of it all the Independent Police Complaints Commission has upheld our appeal and now the Police are being forced to properly investigate. He still has his gun’s. He is 78 years old, going deaf, bad eyesight and has difficulty walking.

By: daylight_gambler

daylight_gambler — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:55:32 +0000

Hi David – what a terrible situation. I am sorry to read what happened.

Unfortunately there are unpleasant people in all walks of life and this is very different from farmers protecting their stock.

I assume your only recourse is to contact the police – from my (limited) understanding of the law, if “sheep worrying” is their defence they have clearly broken the law.

By: David Heap

David Heap — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 06:57:47 +0000

What about the ‘Farmers’ who go out hunting other people’s cattle dog’s in a violent snow storm, knowing who’s dog’s they belong to, that they was stock proof and that the owners did their best to look for them, they them call them over with a sheep whistle (knowing they are trained for this) shoot them dead, hide their bodies for ten day’s, do not report the killings to the Police, then refused to hand over the bodies when found out?

By: Sally

Sally — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:12:37 +0000

Congratulations, an excellent article and very well balanced between the rights of livestock/land owners and the public desire to enjoy walking our beautiful countryside.

I’m so please you found my advice works and I hope your article will encourage other dog owners to recognise the fear sheep feel with dogs around and give them space and time to move to a more secure feeling area.

May I just add that it is important to recognise your dogs body language, you have to bring them back under control BEFORE they go into chase mode, or by then it’s too late and they will simply ignore your command to heel, no matter how well trained they are. I had to learn this myself when I first moved with my pet dogs onto a sheep farm.
Sally´s last blog ..Grow Your Own Potatoes in Containers