Cows killed another poor dog walker

[Pippetypoppity]

I’ve just seen on the BBC news that a lady has been killed in a field by cows. She was walking her chihuahua. This is absolutely tragic. She possibly ran with dog and was chased. That would be my guess as the same happened to me on our farm when I was very young. Your instinct is to save your dog and run. I remember I had a sheep dog puppy in my arms and I’d gone into the field to play. I was about 6 I think. The cows noticed the puppy from quite a distance away and the whole herd started moving in. Luckily I was close enough to the gate to get out, but it was terrifying. I remember my father on the yard yelling ‘Drop the puppy’ at the top of his lungs. I didn’t but I’d have been a gonner if I was another 50 yards in. I just want to tell everyone what my father said to me that day. It’s stuck in my mind ever since and it’s important anyone who dog walks in the country knows it too

1. If you see cows with calves leave the field by the nearest exit immediately. Cows often charge to protect their young
2. If you see cows without calves and they start moving quickly towards you they are being inquisitive. If you have a dog with you the cows will want to know if it is a threat. They see dogs instinctively as predators. If you cannot get to a gate and they are approaching- startle them by shouting jumping, waving your arms and making yourself appear as loud, big and threatening as possible. This will frighten them and make them stop or bypass you.
3. If they persevere it will be because they want to force your dog out of the field. Let the dog go! This is critical. Your dog can run faster than cows and much much faster than you. The cows will then focus on the dog and you can get away.
4. Never ever pick up the dog if cows are refusing to back off. This is the hardest thing in the world to do as all your instincts will compel you to try and protect it. It stands a better chance running and dodging them however than it does in your arms. You will then avoid becoming a target yourself and being trampled.
5. When cows move quickly in a large group the ones at the front get pushed by the ones at the back even if they themselves try to slow down. They will not be trying to mow you down but the sheer force from behind might mean they do. For this reason if cows approach in a group and your initial efforts to threaten and scare them failed, make that momentum go in a different direction ie after your dog.

I am so so dreadfully sorry to hear that this has happened again. The lady in question was inevitably a devoted extremely responsible and loving pet owner. She must have been to have been giving her chihuahua a country walk. I expect for this very reason she picked her dog up when she saw the cows getting near. Poor poor lady.

I had never realised how dangerous cows were

Because there was a public footpath running through it perhaps?

The philosophy that no one should enter a field with a public footpath running through when there are cows in it is a dangerous one, IMO. We have a right to walk these paths. It is the farmers' responsibility to ensure that they are safe for walkers.

In the new forest you don’t really have a choice to avoid them as they’re free roaming. They often have calves with them too. I don’t go out onto the forest even though it’s my home as I’m terrified of cows, got chased by them as a child (not in the new forest).
Although there have been some nasty incidents in the forest we don’t seem to have as many as you’d expect by the sheer number of them free roaming in an area popular with dog walkers especially. I wonder if it’s because they’re used to people?

My thoughts exactly.

I live near the South Downs way (a motorway of footpaths) and there are cows in many of the fields it goes through. Don't quite see how we shouldn't be in fields if cattle are there as suggested above.

It's a difficult one here.

Scotland so right to roam.

Husband is cattle farmer. I would eat dog poo before I took a dog in with cattle. And I handle and work with both.

We tend to stick signs up saying calves in field. Bull in field. But ultimately people decide what they decide.

They hate dogs. There is no question of that. They are also very inquisitive and extremely protective of calves.

I can't believe people in the U.K. can just walk through farms

People with dogs shouldn't be in a field with cows. People need to have some common sense.

I warned a man who took his 3 small children and dog into a field of calves and cows - he verbally abused me in return. Ignorance and entitlement is very worrying OP. People seem to think farm animals are there for them to pet these days. It is insanity - they are big dangerous animal!

So having a 'right' supercedes common sense? A farmer also has a 'right' to use their fields how they see fit.

A Farmer was almost killed by one of his cows in a farm close ish to me

He was trying to help the baby cow and the Mummy cow got cross

Awful 😖

Not easy, but much safer. I would never go through a field of cows with a dog - ever. I'd rather go back the way I came.

I am highly respectful of working farms whenever I go walking. And I wish I could say that I have seen consistent evidence that farmers have similar respect for walkers, and the countryside. However, if you've seen as many blocked, overgrown footpaths, dangerous and dilapidated infrastructure and polluted watercourses as I have, that's not something I ever could say.

It seems clear to me that a lot of farmers don't want people walking on public footpaths, and failing to assess the risk of putting particular cattle in fields with public footpaths crossing them is a handy way to deter the general public. If someone happens to get killed, oh well 🤷‍♀️

There's often ancient rights of way that predate the modern boundaries of the farms, and in places where there isn't an alternative path. Many people use public footpaths to get from A to B, not just to have a nice walk in the country.

I always carry a wooden stick to hit them with if they get too close, if they are frightened they will move away. My late farming uncles and great uncles always did this.

There are literally herds of cows throughout the fields surrounding the city I live in. There have been no deaths to my knowledge but it isn’t as simple as just avoiding them.

A farmer has a duty to ensure that a public footpath is clear and safe to use. Read what the Health and Safety Executive says about the subject if you don't believe me.

I would never walk through a field of cows. They will protect their young. I was in the countryside with some friends once many years ago. I was frightened to walk across a field with cows in it. Everyone mocked me as being stupid/scaredy. So I reluctantly went along with it. Years later I see I was right.

People and dogs should keep out 🛑

@ArcheryAnnie so public footpaths run through farms?

And I wish the public would respect farmers’ land. If they all left fields empty because of footpaths it would be even more expensive for you to pick up your Saturday night steak at Sainsburys.

This happened in the village where I grew up very sad

Thank you @Pippetypoppity for taking the time to write out all that advice in such a sensitive post.

Agreed, stay out of the fields.

We have cows all around us where I live, in the lanes as well as the fields. They are very nosy and very protective of their young.

They also remember and recognise you.

One has a love affair with my Doberman and when she spies him she ignores my other dogs and hurries to greet him and he sits patiently whilst she washes his head.

All dogs in a lead at all times near any livestock as there are also sheep and ponies wandering around.

We have never had any hostility have seen the cows Tuen on idiot tourists trying to get close to take photos of young calves.

One year we had one of the ponies go over the cliff thanks to the idiots that try to have their photo taken with them.

If you stand still they come to you if they know you.

Easy to say but you understand that cows are mobile...

You enter a field that has a public footpath, theres no sign on the stile or gate to say there are cows.

There has never been cows in there before in your experience.

The field is on a hill or has dips/hills/trees in it and is big enough that quite a lot of cattle can be hidden from your view as you enter it..

And hey presto, you're halfway across a field and 100 black and white idiots come hurtling at you to see what you are/why you have a small wolf/see if you have food/see if you need killing...

Do tell me how common sense prevents this situation? Does it give you the ability to see round corners/over hills?