The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: rikkib on September 23, 2012, 04:30:38 pm

Title: Bridle ways
Post by: rikkib on September 23, 2012, 04:30:38 pm
Could anybody please tell me the laws for people walking dogs on bridle ways,  I have recently acquired property and land alongside a bridle way most of our neighbours are good people that just want to get on with life  but Sod's law we have one that thinks because they have lived in the area longer they can do as they wish. The wife walks two Labradors that are totally uncontrollable by herself. They caused the death of one of our cats chased our goats around our field they had jumped into and now she thinks it is ok to allow her dogs to bate our sheep whilst shoe holds them on a lead. She justifies this by saying she is training the dogs not to worry sheep.  The other day she was asked by my wife to clean up the dogs dirt she was very offended by this and how dare we ask her to do this.  As we and other dog owners allow their dogs to foul on this bridle way.     Anybody got any ideas
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: bazzais on September 23, 2012, 04:39:14 pm
You are legally allowed to walk a pet along a bridleway - but allowing a dog to frighten livestock is illegal.
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: bazzais on September 23, 2012, 04:43:34 pm
I could say get a gun and point it at her dog the next time she allows it to frighten your lifestock - but this of course is a kneejerk.

If you know her address then maybe let the police know to get started and then get a solicitor to write her a letter stating your concerns and how she is breaking the law.

Dogs chasing after cats is one thing - but actually using your sheep to train her dog - seems like she might be taking the pee.  SOunds like she is in a little world of her own that doesnt include anyone else.  Maybe she has mental problems?
Title: .
Post by: RUSTYME on September 23, 2012, 04:46:52 pm
Get a big feckoff bull that hates dogs , place in field and sit back and watch tshtf !
If the dog attacks the sheep you are entitled to shoot it ! Not sure you can do the same to the owners though !
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: funkyfish on September 23, 2012, 05:17:48 pm
Can you borrow some geese/alpaca/llama? Hopefully they would charge the dogs and scare the pants of them! I feel sorry for the poor dogs, with such a stoopid owner!


I'd be livid! Report her to the dog warden for having her dogs dangerously out of control in a public place! Say you are terrified of the dogs and what they might do to you and your live stock! Also report her for not clearing up her dog mess- bet she doesn't worm them either...
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: robert waddell on September 23, 2012, 05:27:43 pm
collect the crap on a shovel   chap her door and when she or her man open it throw the crap in
they cant do you as you are returning there property :farmer:
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: HelenVF on September 23, 2012, 05:30:46 pm
Sigh, what an absolute idiot who shouldn't be allowed out!  How dare she behave like that around your livestock.  I would be LIVID!  Not sure how rural you are but it might be worth having a chat with the dog warden to see what the legalities of what she is doing.  I seem to think, not sure about this one, but I'm sure I read somewhere they had changed the law about dog muck but can't remember what it was....will google!

ETA: found this:
 
 There is also exemption for dog owners on some kinds of public land, including:
 
Helen
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: omnipeasant on September 23, 2012, 06:28:45 pm
I am sure she has to clean up the poo on a public bridleway.

I am sure she is an idiot.

If she wants to train her dogs on your sheep send her a huge bill for the privilidge (can't spell that!)

Dp you want to borrow my Jack donkey who is great at deterring dogs?
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: Mays on September 23, 2012, 06:38:25 pm
she definetly sounds like an idot.
I too have public walking past one of my fields, the way I see it, the world is full a idiots and its my job to protect my animals so I ripped out all the fencing and installed 5ft high tornedo fencing, nothing can get into my fields, I can sleep at night.
The law says "a dog must be kept under control by its owner at all times when on a lesh or not. Worrying livestock is an offense (shee, goats and horses are stated as livestock) but killing a cat sadly is not ( :o{ )  and if they kill another dog it is a rap on the knuckles, I know this from bitter experience as my mothers small dog was killed last year, I lost my will to fight over it as my mum sadly died not long after, a gutting time.
 
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: sabrina on September 23, 2012, 06:50:00 pm
There is always one who thinks they can do whatever they like. See what the police have to say. No harm on asking their advice. Poor dog to have such a selfish owner.
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: Castle Farm on September 23, 2012, 07:26:28 pm
Get yourself a very large stick/baseball bat and everytime you see her walk out towards her swinging the bat. Your protecting your livestock.

If she calls the poilce so much the better. Let them sort the stupid cow out.
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: Lesley Silvester on September 23, 2012, 09:36:33 pm
What an idiot.  I think I would ask the dog warden's advice first of all.
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: fifixx on September 23, 2012, 10:12:13 pm
Rights of way offi er explained it to me the other day: the law says that dogs must be under close control while walking on a bridle way or footpath.  He interprets close control as within a metre of the owner. Control can be when the dog comes when called, but close means close by.


I asked about the dog poo on ag land.  He said that the actual footpath or bridle way is classed as a public highway, therefore it has to picked up. Also, the dog should be on the footpath or bridle way, not bounding around in the field (close control again)


Yesterday I had a horse rider go past with her spaniel all over the place.  I said it should be on a lead near my livestock and she just huffed.  Have had problems with her before, need to find out whether riders can legally have loose dogs.





Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: Moleskins on September 23, 2012, 10:56:52 pm
Well I'd contact the police and ask them if I could shoot the dog and under what circumstances. Then slip it in that you know who owns the dog, hopefully the police would pop round for a word.
Subtle ?
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: robert waddell on September 23, 2012, 11:06:47 pm
i think you are all leaving yourselves   wide open for charges  with guns near a public footpath  and toting baseball bats again near a public footpath :farmer:
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: Moleskins on September 23, 2012, 11:36:45 pm
i think you are all leaving yourselves   wide open for charges  with guns near a public footpath  and toting baseball bats again near a public footpath :farmer:
Well I'd contact the police and ask them if I could shoot the dog and under what circumstances. Then slip it in that you know who owns the dog, hopefully the police would pop round for a word.
Subtle ?
Robert, that's why I'd suggested the subtle approach, you're then the law abiding citizen, they're not.
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: Penninehillbilly on September 24, 2012, 01:47:21 am
i think you are all leaving yourselves   wide open for charges  with guns near a public footpath  and toting baseball bats again near a public footpath :farmer:
I agree with Robert, in this case you would be classed as the agressor (sp?). guns are not allowed withing a certain distance of a right of way.
many 'Public spaces' have a dog control order on them, £1,000 fine. Check with your local council. Try and get a photo or video of her not cleaning up. You could always stick the pictures up for all to see what a lazy dirty b****r she is!
how about running a length of plain wire alongside the bridleway, then about a foot of so into your land run an electric fence (suitably labelled) round the inside perimeter, then see if the dog tries to get through twice!
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: robert waddell on September 24, 2012, 11:16:02 am
thirty odd years ago i was travelling a machine to a site in whitburn    as i approached a grassed area a dog come out through the rickety fence and sat patiently for me to pass   as i drew level with the dog i rolled the bucket back and forward   the dog crapped it and ran back the way it had come trying to get through two different wires at once     the guys i was working for  thought i was daft i could not speak for laughing  and that was hours after it :roflanim:
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: manian on September 24, 2012, 11:22:18 am
hi we have a bridleway through our property and like you people used it as a dog toilet when we moved in
they have the right to walk pets 'under control' but do NOT have the right to stop, or foul the area

people still think they are on a path not a right of way through my 'garden'

get in contact with your rights of way officer
they will give you signs etc
we got a cheap camera that records; put up signs saying anyone allowing their dog to foul will be fined and evidence will be on video. We alos said we will kindly return anything 'left'AND have a wall of shame.....

became clean very quickly
Title: Re: Bridle ways
Post by: Lesley Silvester on September 24, 2012, 12:59:23 pm
hi we have a bridleway through our property and like you people used it as a dog toilet when we moved in
they have the right to walk pets 'under control' but do NOT have the right to stop, or foul the area

people still think they are on a path not a right of way through my 'garden'

get in contact with your rights of way officer
they will give you signs etc
we got a cheap camera that records; put up signs saying anyone allowing their dog to foul will be fined and evidence will be on video. We alos said we will kindly return anything 'left'AND have a wall of shame.....

became clean very quickly


 :roflanim: :roflanim:   Good for you.   :thumbsup: