[lachlanandmarcus]

Thats really interesting, you dont have the section number do you as I think most peoples understanding is that close control is the wording. Maybe thats cos close control is the wording used I think in the Countryside Code. It would certainly be useful if legislation said more than that. Is the Act the up to date one, as its 50+ years ago, do you know?

[SallyintNorth]

Oh I think you'd struggle if you wanted to keep the hunt off your land here. I remember staying on a farm on Exmoor once. When the hunt had gone noisily through one of the two women who owned the place sId that she didn't like the hunt and would like to tell them to keep off their farm 'but,' she added 'we can't or we'd never sell anything at the local mart ever again'

It's a fact.  A local very nice organic farm won't allow the hunt to use its grounds.  Boycotted by one and all, sadly, as their meat is actually very very good!

[robert waddell]

google it it is there and current  even the bit about the ewe abborting

[doganjo]

For the purposes of this Act worrying livestock means—

(a)attacking livestock, or

(b)chasing livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or, in the case of females, abortion, or loss of or diminution in their produce.

[F1or
(c)being at large (that is to say not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/1-2/28

[woollyval]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/1-2/28

[jaykay]

Now maybe we should have notices at our gates with that definition on, so that the general public learn that worrying can simply be 'being at large where there are sheep'! 

[woollyval]

Now maybe we should have notices at our gates with that definition on, so that the general public learn that worrying can simply be 'being at large where there are sheep'! 

Well thats exactly what I do!

[bazzais]

IMO you should be able to shoot sea salt at the butt of any owner who sees a sign and then does or continues to do the exact opposite.

We have footpaths frinkin everywhere but only two main ones that are not fenced around - one runs right through the front yard and inbetween our sheds - its the National Coast Path and has thousands of walkers every year in summer we have easily over a hundred every day - with lots of dogs.

I have signs up for dogs but it is surprising the amount of people who take no notice - I gota say though that in the majority, its mostly people who are from other farms or own livestock who dont put a lead on their dogs as they think/know they can trust them. I always mention that even though they may know their pet - its about setting an example to others - I wouldn't take my dog through their yard without a lead and I expect the same. I dont think this is unreasonable.

Mind you my doggies have never had a collar or been walked anywhere with a lead - so I just wouldnt take them to someone elses farm for a walk

Baz

[robert waddell]

bazzais   you have my sympathy  hundreds of them forkers traipsing round your curtilage
the sea salt    bit reminds me of a story my uncle told    somebody was getting bother with the local Ned's so he filled a couple of cartridges with porridge   the next time they came round he let them have it with both barrels right on the back of his head   he reached round with his hand and screamed  hes shot my brains out
that was in the sixties would not get away with that now

[jaykay]

Sea salt sounds very reasonable   

Yeh, however trustworthy your dog, it's just plain rude to walk it past somone else's buildings/house/livestock off the lead - rude cos it causes stress and worry and sets a bad example.

 Put it on a bŁ&@#$ lead, what IS the problem?

[doganjo]

I think you'll probably find that these dafties can't walk their dogs on leads because they've never been to training classes of any kind!  Probably pull them all over the shop.   If they had gone to training classes they's have been taught to respect other users of any ground they visit.

[Fieldfare]

Hi folks- thanks for the replies. I decided to write a note on paper explaining what had happened. I posted that up at either ends of the footpath and also put up a couple of dodgily-painted "Keep Dogs on Lead" wooden signs - they look a bit like what you might expect nailed up by the banjo players in the film "Deliverence"    ....so hopefully will have an effect!

[jaykay]

they look a bit like what you might expect nailed up by the banjo players in the film "Deliverence

[robert waddell]

squeal like a pig boy

[khajou]

I had a dog attack once and out of 5 ewes and 10 lambs I had 2 survivors.
But, on putting up a notice ........ I had a horse that suffered from laminitis and despite various diets she was still putting on weight. Her paddock had a footpath running through it, so I put up a notice to say please do not feed Moonie as she was on a special diet. That weekend I had at least 12 families walk past with bags of carrots/apples/pears/polo mints, etc saying ' but it's only a few carrots'! They were doing it out of ignorance because there was not much grass for her to eat.
We sadly have to educate our dog lovers that worrying is not just chasing the sheep around the field, but the presence of a dog can worry them.