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AIBU?

To think parents should take responsibility if children chase sheep on country walk?

999 replies

Firethorn · 26/03/2015 18:13

Recently went for a country walk (public right of way across farmland) with SIL, my 2 nieces, and another couple and their 3 kids. Crossing a sheep-field, the 5 kids started chasing sheep, trying to 'round them up' in a flock like they'd seen sheepdogs do on TV. I asked SIL if we should stop them, she said no they always do this it's not doing any harm. Other couple agreed and said the kids are having fun, let them play with the sheep. I was a bit concerned as one child was carrying a stick and waving it around, but respected the parents' decision.
Shortly afterwards an irate farmer marched towards us shouting and swearing! She was really aggressive and had a snarling dog (off the lead), dog was circling us but not approaching. For about 5 minutes mins she yelled and swore at the kids for chasing her sheep. All 3 parents then turned on their kids and told them off, lying that they'd been telling them to stop but they'd disobeyed! (They hadn't told them to stop at any point). My niece burst into tears and hid behind me and I lost my temper with farmer for swearing at kids, told her to back off and stop shouting, and to get dog under control. The dad of one of other kids then threatened to kick the dog if it came near his kids, and after some more shouting we decided to go back way we'd come. She shouted abuse after us until we were out of sight!

I'm annoyed with other parents for letting their kids chase sheep then lying about trying to stop them! Also with farmer for being so intimidating and rude. SIL says we should just have apologised and carried on walking. AIBU?

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 26/03/2015 18:16

The farmer and her dog did nothing wrong.

You're all ridiculously to blame and I hope she calls the police on you.

Those children could have caused very serious injuries to the sheep who are probably carrying lambs.

Unbelievably stupid.

Seriouslyffs · 26/03/2015 18:16

Of course parents should take responsibility. Do you always take your lead from the other grown upsHmm
Do you know why the farmer was so cross?
Have a little think.

echt · 26/03/2015 18:17

I'm trying to think of a polite way for the farmer to tell anyone, child or not, not to terrify animals, which is what the children were doing.

WowOoo · 26/03/2015 18:19

I'm with the farmer here. You are lucky to be allowed on her land, but please show some respect to the animals.
I have always spoken to my children beforehand on the few times we've done this.

You'll know better for next time, at least.

IUseAnyName · 26/03/2015 18:21

Dogs can be shot on site for doing what those kids did. It's lambing season too so they were prob all pregnant. Farmer had every right to be cross but she should have had her dog on a lead around you. Not nice for the kids.

Dinnerfor1 · 26/03/2015 18:21

I don't blame the farmer for being so cross at all. It is awful that the parents allowed that type of behaviour.

The poor sheep must have been very scared, and I don't know a lot about farming but I think we are very close to lambing season so a lot of those sheep may have been expecting.

I honestly can't believe any adult would just watch a child behave like this?!

DishwasherDogs · 26/03/2015 18:21

At this time of year it's probable that the sheep are pregnant.

If it was a dog chasing them the farmer would have legally been allowed to shoot it.

The farmer was not in the wrong here at all. The parents of the children sound fucking stupid.

Bair · 26/03/2015 18:21

The farmer did nothing wrong.

Worrying sheep can have serious consequences which could affect this farmer's livelihood, not to mention the welfare of the animals. Unless you'd be happy some wandering into your work and fucking about to the extent you could lose your wage you may have to accept you were ALL a bunch of numpties for not stopping the children.

PatrickStarxx · 26/03/2015 18:21

You were on the farmers land. You walk on it, not mess with the animals. You're supposed to stick to the path.

If I was the farmer i would put up huge fences to stop his animals be bothered like that again.

Shockers · 26/03/2015 18:21

You were on the farmer's land and the children were putting her sheep, that were most probably in lamb, at risk. I'm not surprised she lost her rag.

The adults in your party need to read the country code to their children... and take responsibility.

An apology may have taken the heat out of the situation more than a threat to kick her dog.

LaurieFairyCake · 26/03/2015 18:23

Was it even a public right of way?

If not I disagree that her dog should have been on a lead - her land, her dog.

And bloody right it should have been growling at you all for terrorising her livestock on her land, it's what farm dogs are for.

IUseAnyName · 26/03/2015 18:23

Are you townies?

Bair · 26/03/2015 18:23

Why should the dog have been on a lead? It's the owner's land, the owner's dog and it seems a damn site better behaved than the children in this situation.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 26/03/2015 18:23

Scaring sheep this time of year, when they're heavily in lamb, can kill the sheep and the lambs. And that's if we ignore the fact that terrorising animals is always wrong.

Had it been a dog chasing the sheep, the farmer could have legally shot it. Because scaring and chasing animals is wrong and damages the animals.

tabulahrasa · 26/03/2015 18:23

It's lambing season, stress from being chased can cause sheep to miscarry...

So not only were they terrifying her livestock, they could well have cost her a fairly substantial loss of livelihood.

Bair · 26/03/2015 18:24

*sight ffs

IUseAnyName · 26/03/2015 18:25

Laurie I disagree. Yes the farmer had every right to be cross, but it would cery quickly turn from bad to worse if the dog so much as nipped one of the children.

SunshineAndShadows · 26/03/2015 18:25

Stress such as chasing causes abortion in sheep. You were on the farmer's land worrying her livestock and you think she was unreasonable?? Shock
I'm not surprised she was angry - you all acted like idiots. Why didn't you stop the children and apologise?

AmarettoSour · 26/03/2015 18:25

This post has really annoyed me. The people you were with sound like thugs - kicking the dog, really?

Do the farmer a favour and stay off her land in future.

RebootYourEngine · 26/03/2015 18:26

I reckon the farmer was sick of people terrorising her sheep & quute rightly took it out on you. The dog sounded like it was doing to you whst you were doing to the sheep.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 26/03/2015 18:26

He dog didn't nip the children. It was just there. I never put my dog on a lead in my field. It's my property.

SunshineAndShadows · 26/03/2015 18:26

But the dog didn't nip the children, in fact it caused no damage at all - because it was clearly under better control than the hooligan kids or their idiot parents.

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LaurieFairyCake · 26/03/2015 18:26

Growling isn't biting.

And anyone threatening to kick a dog for growling and trying to do its job deserves to get bitten.

FenellaFellorick · 26/03/2015 18:27

considering it is, I thought anyway, well known that pregnant ewes can be frightened badly enough that they lose their lambs, I don't blame the farmer at all for going apeshit.

People aren't supposed to allow their children to torment the animals so no, not unreasonable at all that you think the parents should take responsibility.

derxa · 26/03/2015 18:27

Are you being serious? These sheep are probably ewes in lamb. It's lambing season. Unlike you and your kids the farmer would have had full control of the dog.

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