My dog was shot by a Farmer

by Kirsty, Firth

My first German Shepherd was shot by a farmer 5 years ago for worrying his flock.

My dog had escaped from me and was bounding around in his fields. However, I was in the field behind her, shouting at the top of my voice and trying my best to catch up with her - the farmer must have heard me.

He made no attempt to catch or stop my dog, he made no attempt to allow me to catch my dog. When I arrived she was dead (shot three times) and there wasn't a sheep in sight!

He told me she had been chasing his sheep and therefore he had a right to shoot her.

I will never know whether she was worrying his livestock.

The dogs I have now, another shepherd and a collie, have been stockbroken - as I never, ever want to have to go through the heartbreak again.

All dog owners please be aware that farmers can, and will, shoot dogs they feel are a threat.

Dog owners are required to keep dogs under effective control at all times. For the avoidance on doubt, The Countryside Code on the Natural England website is quite explicit about what is defined by the phrase 'Keep dogs under effective control'.

It says:

Keep dogs under effective control

When you take your dog into the outdoors, always ensure it does not disturb wildlife, farm animals, horses or other people by keeping it under effective control. This means that you:

keep your dog on a lead, or
keep it in sight at all times, be aware of what it's doing and be confident it will return to you promptly on command
ensure it does not stray off the path or area where you have a right of access

Special dog rules may apply in particular situations, so always look out for local signs - for example:

Dogs may be banned from certain areas that people use, or there may be restrictions, byelaws or control orders limiting where they can go.
The access rights that normally apply to open country and registered common land (known as 'Open Access' land) require dogs to be kept on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July, to help protect ground nesting birds, and all year round near farm animals.
At the coast, there may also be some local restrictions to require dogs to be kept on a short lead during the bird breeding season, and to prevent disturbance to flocks of resting and feeding birds during other times of year.

It's always good practice (and a legal requirement on 'Open Access' land) to keep your dog on a lead around farm animals and horses, for your own safety and for the welfare of the animals. A farmer may shoot a dog which is attacking or chasing farm animals without being liable to compensate the dog's owner.

However, if cattle or horses chase you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead - don't risk getting hurt by trying to protect it. Your dog will be much safer if you let it run away from a farm animal in these circumstances and so will you.

Everyone knows how unpleasant dog mess is and it can cause infections, so always clean up after your dog and get rid of the mess responsibly - 'bag it and bin it'. Make sure your dog is wormed regularly to protect it, other animals and people.

Hope this helps . . .

Mike (Editor)

The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those held by go4awalk.com.

Add your comment to THIS story

Add YOUR OWN Walkers' Tale, Anecdote, Story or Experience