[Rosemary]

Some of you will recall that a couple of months ago we had a visit from the Staffie along the road (Buster), wthat killed 13 hens. Ploice were called; no witnesses to the killing but we know the dog was loose and in the vicinity and had been caught by us before. No proof but owner compensated me.

Well, I was making a cup of tea at lunchtime and saw the sheep bunch and look at something. Saw hens running. Felt sick. Went outside. And there's the bold Buster in the field with the sheep.

Shouted him, caught him (Tess was trying to tear his face off) and shut him in the garage. No-one shouting on him - had they noticed he was missing?

Called the Police. Police came; employee from taxi office who was supposed to be looking after the dog arrived. Full of apologies. Police went off with employee and dog to seek owner.

Piles of feathers in field but no bodies. Elderly RIR missing; can't tell with the BR until I do a headcount tonight. Sheep OK.

Dan checking legislation; Police making concilatory noises.

What now?

[doganjo]

Tell sheep owner (take it not yours?)  If dog seen in field with sheep and caught there they have a good case.

[Rosemary]

Oh yes, he was in with my sheep, so sheep owner knows.

[doganjo]

Then Police should take action if you have made a complaint! 

[Roxy]

If the dog is actually seen attacking the livestock, and ignores commands to stop, you are well within your rights to shoot, and rightly so.  If it was only in the field and not actually seen chasing/attacking/killing anything, I am not sure what the police can do, except warn the owner.  I suppose they could try and prosecute, but nowadays, they have to have a firm belief the case will be won (Crown Prosecution decide this) otherwise its not worth the bother.

At the very least, if you can find the hens body, I would go and see the owner and ask for payment (a very expensive RIR - and don't mention its age!) with a strict warning that next time it will be shot.

[northfifeduckling]

Threaten legal action even if you have no intention to go ahead.  Dogs have to be kept under control by law.

[Rosemary]

Actually Dan just rang me to say that it is an offence for a dog to be in a field with livestock unless it is on a lead or under close control. Exceptions police dogs and working collies. The dog was loose and no-one was with it. That's not close control in my book.

Dan's furious. He's checking legislation to see what our position is. No point threatening to shoot the dog - we did that last time and the time before. We don't have a gun, anyway (well an air rifle, so it would only sting).

Since the last incident, I've seen the dog loose but the owners have always been "around". I've told them he'll do it again, but they haven't listened.

I don't want the dog detroyed but I don't beleive them when they say they will keep it under control. Would you?

[Tullywood Farm]

If I were you and the dog gets loose again, I would definately get someone on standby that you know, who has a gun, and get the thing shot - as it will never stop once it has done this - they get a taste for the blood.

It is legal to shoot it if it is on your land and worrying animals,
We had to do it once, we contacted the Garda first, they told us to shoot it as they were fedup of all the dead sheep reports.
The Garda had been to the owners and they denied it was their dog when they heard that "compensation claims" may be lodged against them.

Good Luck and hope it never returns

Julie

[Roxy]

The dogs owner will not know that you do not own a gun - he wants telling straight, that next time its shot.

We have issues with a man who walks his dogs in our fields.  He does not keep to the path, lets his dogs run wherever they want, despite repeated warnings about the cows with calves attacking his dogs if they go near. ...he certainly does not have his dogs under close control, and I am sick of the piles of dog poo they leave behind too.

His Jack Russell ended up at the vets, and he said one of our cows had kicked it.  The vet disagreed and said it had been kicked in the ribs by a size 10 human foot, and it was pts.  Hmm....how do you deal with this sort of person, and the one who owns Buster?

[JD]

Rosemary, the legislation used to be Section 1 of Dogs(protection of Livestock) Act, 1953 which has probably been amended by The Wildlife and Countryside Act1981.

" If a dog worries livestock on any agricultural land, the owner of the dog, and, if it is in the charge of another person other than the owner that person also shall commit an offence."
Worrying means, "attacking livestock, or 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, or 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."  the exceptions you mentioned above apply.

The Act goes on but as you can see an offence has clearly been committed. Over to the police.
JD

[sandy]

I do not trust my Lab so never go near where there are sheep unless he is on the lead, my other dog is very trustworthy and so was Bruce. I used to go down the disused train line but along the fields now are sheep so I cdon't go, just walk around the dam or in the forest.....hope it gets sorted as it is the owners that are at fault!!!!

[doganjo]

As I am training my young dog for Field Trials I need him to be steady to ALL animals.  He is frightened of larger ones such as cattle and horses so he won't go near them, and I have had him sit beside a gate with 'friendly' sheep on the other side and he was scared of them, but I will still take steps to have him trained to leave them. I only allow my dogs off lead when I know there are no farm animals around.  All responsible owners will do the same.

[Rosemary]

Thanks, Jim. To be honest, I don't think the Police are taking it seriously.

Thanks for all your comments. I've told them twice now after attacks and several times whan I've seen the dog running loose that it will be shot. They obviously don't believe me. The Police spoke to them last time, so they obvioulsy hold them, as well as us, in utter contempt. Their promises mean nothing - saying sorry will make it alright. Well, it won't. Maybe the only way to prove how serious this is, is to have the dog destroyed.

THe ancient RIR has returned, by the way.

[doganjo]

Thank goodness.  So Buster didn't get any this time? 
My old girl has had two now - first Kamikaze, then one of the ex-batts decided to commit suicide too.  She had jumped onto the fence and down onto the passageway between the run and the house.  I had let Hester and Allez out for a run not knowing th hen had come over and was on my way back out with my coffee when I heard the squawking and Jamie letting rip too.  She was almost gone when I got there and had to finish her off.  I very nearly finished Hester off too - she was really squealing by the time I'd dragged her into the house by her ears!  But I know it won't stop her so there is now a foot of chicken wire attached to the top of the 4 foot wooden panelled fence.  So far so good - none of them have tried to jump that yet. Clipping wings doesn't work as they jump not fly.

[northfifeduckling]

Rosemary, I would insist on having it reported. Then ask a lawyer for advice. But the police have to take it seriously, the law is on your side. I bet they would if you were a "proper" farmer!