Farmers rights to shoot dogs...

[timwilky]

In years gone by I have had arguments on this very forum due to irate dog owners who feel their pet should not be threatened for being out of control amongst livestock.

I have gone on record to say I have shot dogs that have been causing havoc.

The most significant incident would be when I was about 14, a local busybody let his dog out of control and it killed one of our geese.

About 2 days later he knocked on the door and asked if we had seen his dog and I said it was in the shed. After an argument he agreed when he paid £5 for the goose he could have his dog. Off he went for the money and when he returned I gave him his dog in a sack. He called the police who simply said "was it the dog?", "yes he had the goose in its mouth when I shot it!" Fair do then.

It does annoy me that people think that they can have free reign with their dogs amongst livestock. Have people seen the result of a dog in with sheep, aborting with the distress, throats ripped. It is horrid having to shoot your own sheep just to put them out of their misery.

My granddaughter now lives on a farm. I go up there to shoot rabbit/foxes. I am already under instruction as is my ex daughter in law. Any dogs in the sheep, both barrels.

[tinpants]

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Dont know about this case,but Id like to see a bit more supervision and investigation when serious weapons get used like this.Does sound like it was justified,but give a man a gun and its like a big willy to some,and gets overused accordingly.

Are you for real?

The dogs were on private property, off a lead with the owners nowhere in sight. As the law stands the farmer is within his rights to summarily shoot any dog that is "worrying" his livestock. I believe the police only have to get involved once the dog has been shot which, in this case, I have a feeling they were. It is NOT an offence to discharge a shotgun on private land so what sort of investigation would you like to see, exactly?

Willy waving? Bleeding heart "I have no idea about guns so no-one can have one" twaddle.

I've shot dogs that have been worrying livestock, and have no problem at all with it. The countryside is there for all to enjoy - I have no issue with that - but people have to understand that you can't just walk where you want or let your dogs run free across fields. It just ain't on.

We used to have our horses in a field that had a footpath running across it. No problem, or so you might think. We used to strip graze the field as one of the nags was prone to laminitis so we had to restrict the grass available to graze. Anyway, I was up there one morning moving the fences a bit when a bloke walks up to the stile, climbs over with his dog then lets his dog go running off across the field. When I pointed out that there were horses in the field as well as sheep and could he please keep his dog under control, I got a mouthful of abuse back like you wouldn't believe. Now, those on here that know me know that I'm quite an easy going chap with quite a long fuse!!? Anyway, I explained to this eejit in words of one syllable that if he let his dog loose on our land again then I would shoot it. Haven't seen him since.

The point I'm trying to make is that people just don't understand the wheres and whyfores of the countryside. And before I get flamed by the "right to roam" lobby, that particular law only applies to land over 300m above sea level.






Sorry. Rant over. And breathe!!!

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by tinpants

The point I'm trying to make is that people just don't understand the wheres and whyfores of the countryside.

It's not like there are lots of them, just don't be a c*** and everyone gets on just fine...

[maviczap]

Having heard and seen this woman on the Tv & radio I can understand why she can't understand whats she's done wrong, she's what I'd describe as a typical townie, with no concept of where her food comes from or how hard that farmer has to work.

I've heard his side of the story and he has said he has done everything to comply with the law. He said enough was enough and he HAD to do something at the time.

Interestingly the husband has given no interviews, why? Probably because he knows he was in the wrong. She said her husband was toooooo upset. Man up man!

Sad as it is for the owners, I'm definitely on the farmer's side, he has every right to protect his livelihood. The owners should have known better if they were responsible dog owners. We have never let our GSD off the lead on farmland unless absolutely certain there is nothing else in the field and we can see the dog at all times and he never goes far from our sides anyway. Yes it was only a little spaniel and whippet cross but two animals is even worse than one in some cases. They should count their blessings they still have the one pet left.

As for wanting the law changing, how ridiculous. Why put other farmers in the situation where they cannot act if a dog, stray or otherwise is loose on their land and worrying their livestock, if not worse? These people clearly have no idea.

[MisterTommyH]

Ha ha, "The law was written all the way back in 1976 when there were packs of stray animals roaming the country".

Alright, bit of an exaggeration, but does she really think the law was written for any other purpose than to allow farmers to protect their livestock?

[Biker Biggles]

Originally Posted by tinpants

Are you for real?

The dogs were on private property, off a lead with the owners nowhere in sight. As the law stands the farmer is within his rights to summarily shoot any dog that is "worrying" his livestock. I believe the police only have to get involved once the dog has been shot which, in this case, I have a feeling they were. It is NOT an offence to discharge a shotgun on private land so what sort of investigation would you like to see, exactly?

Willy waving? Bleeding heart "I have no idea about guns so no-one can have one" twaddle.

I've shot dogs that have been worrying livestock, and have no problem at all with it. The countryside is there for all to enjoy - I have no issue with that - but people have to understand that you can't just walk where you want or let your dogs run free across fields. It just ain't on.

We used to have our horses in a field that had a footpath running across it. No problem, or so you might think. We used to strip graze the field as one of the nags was prone to laminitis so we had to restrict the grass available to graze. Anyway, I was up there one morning moving the fences a bit when a bloke walks up to the stile, climbs over with his dog then lets his dog go running off across the field. When I pointed out that there were horses in the field as well as sheep and could he please keep his dog under control, I got a mouthful of abuse back like you wouldn't believe. Now, those on here that know me know that I'm quite an easy going chap with quite a long fuse!!? Anyway, I explained to this eejit in words of one syllable that if he let his dog loose on our land again then I would shoot it. Haven't seen him since.

The point I'm trying to make is that people just don't understand the wheres and whyfores of the countryside. And before I get flamed by the "right to roam" lobby, that particular law only applies to land over 300m above sea level.






Sorry. Rant over. And breathe!!!

Nice rant,but you put plenty of words into my mouth that I didnt say.
What I said was it was probably justified in this case but we didnt know enough about it.I didnt say the farmer had broken any law.As for your I dont know about guns so no one else can comment you dont know me so dont make assumptions.I wont make any about you.I used to shoot but dont now.I have also had the misfortune to find myself looking down the wrong end of one so I have every right to my opinions thank you.And Im not a member of the right to roam lobby or anything similar.
You have your experience and I have mine.That includes experience of people who treat a gun as a willy extension.

i cant see the problem.. I would have probably shot them in the **** but I know its not easy to hit things with a shotgun..I would feel differently if it was my dog, but I wouldn't let my dogs (if I ever get one) worry cattle...

**** happens...

did you know there has been a terrible earthquake in turkey, a drought in africa and people living on the streets just down the road from you? ffs

[Bibio]

what about dogs in fields where there is no livestock, do you think that it's ok for a farmer to threaten to shoot the dog?

[Sid Squid]

The farmer was quite correct, the law does NOT need to be changed - it is quite correct as it is.

But then of course I'm a townie, so what do I know? I know enough to realise I shouldn't be asked about how things are done in a circumstance I know nothing of - much like the lady who's dogs were shot.
But I'm not as daft as her to think there will never be any consequences of stupidity and selfishness, which is what her actions were. And why she thinks that this should not happen - pure selfishness.