Sheep Worrying

Awful. Those poor animals. There are some totally stupid and irresponsible dog owners out there, sadly giving the majority  of sensible, caring owners a bad name. We reported seeing a dog attacking sheep a few years ago, the farmer shot off with his gun. We didn't want to know what the outcome was, but were not prepared to watch defenceless animals suffering. have to be very vigilant at this time of year, sheep stressed enough with lambing.

I haven't looked at what's in the link; I suspect it would be to  upsetting. It's awful and scarcely believable that any dog owner would be prepared to be responsible for attacks on farm animals. We never allow ours off the lead where there is the remotest chance of sheep in particular anywhere in the area. It's not that we think they are likely to cause distress (any dog is capable of that). It's just that we're not prepared to take that risk.

I don't think most people, dog owners or not realise just what nervous spooked out animals sheep are at the best of times. Just because they graze close to roads on open moorland doesn't make them unafraid of human contact, and of course if one does something, very often the whole herd will do the same! Not the brightest of creatures, so require special care when you are around them, especially when in lamb. Our dogs are on leads at all times when sheep are around. 

Awful story, some people just don't realise how much harm dogs can cause.  We have a group of deer in the field near our park,  some dog owners think it's great to let their dogs chase them, I suspect they would also let them chase sheep too. Our collie doesn't take any notice of sheep, but even so we always put him on a lead,  just in case.

I've witnessed a dog attacking sheep ( a terrier, they don't have to be big to cause damage.) I called the police and the owner had to pay the vet bills and received a control order. It's really horrible seeing this happen, dogs will cause a stampede and then latch on to a sheep and bring it down..and then go for more. This particular owner had walked on not noticing what the dog was doing!

It really is shocking how dog owners can be in denial of what their little darlings can change into when around sheep.  Many years ago I lost two soft and silly labradors and immediately rang the neighbouring farmer to warn him we were searching - no harm done thank goodness but I was aware they were capable of doing damage and that the farmer would have been well within his rights to shoot.  Any dog I have been worried about since I have taken to be introduced to tame sheep who generally scare the dogs!  One rescued dog I had on a flexi lead and she charged some sheep - but unfortunately for the dog there was an electric netting fence between her and them - very nasty shock I wasn't quick enough to prevent but she never looked at sheep again. 

I don't decry the seriousness of the OP and fully support all the comments above.  However, I couldn't help but smile when I remember Meg's (our Cockapoo) first experience with sheep.  I was walking her (on a lead, of course), last year, through a field of sheep when this rather large, inquisitive ewe ambled up towards her.  You can see from my avatar that Meg is not dissimilar to a woolly lamb - especially when clipping is overdue.  I am sure the mother thought I was running off with one of her lambs!  Similarly, I suspect Meg thought that the beast coming towards her was a very large Cockapoo.  Needless to say, as the ewe approached, Meg jumped a mile and cowered behind my legs, absolutely terrified.  Was this a case of 'dog worrying'?!!

The problem is that a lot of owners think they have control of their pet when it is off the lead, the fact is the vast majority don't

This is a particularly nasty attack and my sympathy goes out to the farmer.

It doesn't apply to this case,but if the farmer was witnessing the horrible attacks, nowadays, because of the ever vocal "PC brigade" he cannot legally shoot the dog/s to protect his animals without being taken to court.  

That's very wrong !!

K 

I also sympathise with the farmer however yesterday I heard that it was actually more likely to be a Chinook helicopter that was flying very low in the area that scared the sheep.  Dogs usually make - please excuse my french - a bloody mess rather than bodies piled up like that.  If it was a Chinook I hope the farmer can prove it and get compensation from the MOD.