The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: Penghilly on February 10, 2025, 10:30:26 pm
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Hello Unfiortunately a neighbour has been allowing her pack of 9 dogs unrestricted roaming over land and they have now killed 2 of a neighbours prize rare breed rams, some sheep and then dug into my secure enclosure and killed and ate my 3 goats. `the neighbour admits the offence, police are involved but feel that the measures she has taken (apparently euthanising a single dog, re-homing 2 others and keeping the other 6 “secure”” is all that is required so they have closed the case with a community protection warning. There has been no discussion as to contacting me to apologise, compensation (my 3 Pygmy goats were purely pets ) and already dogs have been spotted running free in the lanes. These dogs were involved its killing lambs 2 years ago and are well known to be running free. There is the general concerns us that the owner is neglecting the dogs and should not be allowed to keep them any more and be prosecuted. Where can I go to get advice? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you
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Oh, how awful for you and your neighbours :hug:. It sucks that you didn't get any compensation from them, did the owner of the prize rams get some?
I would ask the police what action they would advise when the 6 remaining dogs are clearly not being kept secure as mandated.
If you think the dogs are neglected you could call the RSPCA/SSPCA to check on them. (Don't know where you are, so which is appropriate for you.) If the owner should be prosecuted and banned from keeping dogs, that would be the best route I would think.
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There is a lovely little valley in Derbyshire called Dovedale. A very popular tourist spot where people often visited with their dogs. At the pedestrian exit from the car park, from which the walk along the river and up the valley began, there was a large notice board with the words 'dogs must be kept on a lead' at the top. Beneath that it went on to say that livestock worrying by dogs would result in the dogs being shot. Underneath that were a series of pretty gruesome photos of dead dogs that had been shot previously by the landowners, to reinforce the warning, with plenty of space left to add more. I have to assume therefore that you have a legal right to shoot these dogs on your property and if so perhaps worth reminding the owner of them?
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Thanks for your comments, unfortunately wrt shooting, a: I need to have a licence and a shotgun which I don’t and 2, I need to see them doing it. The neighbours have the ability to do this but need to catch them. Unfortunately since posting this last night another pregnant ewe was killed and eaten. I have been to the police station today and am demanding prosecution, compensation and the rest of the pack to be euthanised. It is all very upsetting and also avoidable.
I was really looking to see if anyone knew of the law or where I can find it. i have look at the wording of the law last night. I just feel the police are using the wrong type of restraining order which feels like it relates to things like dogs barking or flouting, not livestock being killed and danger to public etc.
Thanks for comments. fin
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Just google dog worrying sheep law .....
In the UK, it's a criminal offense for a dog to kill or injure sheep, and the owner of the dog can be fined or jailed.
What the law says
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 makes it illegal to worry livestock, which includes attacking or chasing them
The penalty for worrying livestock is a fine of up to £1,000
The owner of the dog is liable for damage caused by their dog, even if they accidentally let the dog off the lead
The law differs slightly depending on which country you are in.
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The landowner / livestock keeper's rights are to shoot the dog or dogs if they are causing harm to livestock and are not able to be brought under control in any other way. So yes, they must be with the livestock, and not be being responsive to being shouted at / shots fired over their heads. There is no redress save through the police - or possibly a civil proceeding? - after the event.
Could be worth talking to Citizen's Advice? Re: a civil proceeding?
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I own French Gundogs. Our Club runs stock awareness and aversion courses all-over England. I am trying to find someone to do this in Scotland.
It doesn't help your neighbour or yourself but I think it's high time it was compulsory for all dogs to be properly trained, and tested within a set time. There should be compulsory ownership training and an examination too.
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I'm not sure police advise on compensation, I think you need to talk to a solicitor.
Or phone Citizens Advice, I got some really helpful advice from them over the phone.