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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

1000 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:
DejaVuAllOverAgain · 26/03/2015 20:54

To most non-farming people, a field of sheep is just a field of sheep. A sign on the gate eg 'please stick to path and avoid approaching the sheep' would be beneficial to everyone.

I doubt even if there had been signs the arrogant, entitled, lying, cowardly fuckwits would have taken any notice of them and told the children to not chase the sheep. Not that I'm saying that farmers should have to put signs up. They shouldn't have to, anyone with half an ounce of common sense/intelligence should realise you do not chase animals.

As for the dog, it was doing its job. Warning you to stay away from the sheep.

Passmethecrisps · 26/03/2015 20:55

Farm dogs are scary because they are working dogs. I have known lots of them and while plenty were slobbery hounds around us kids there were others who were utterly terrifying. They are not pets

ThankFuckSpringIsHere · 26/03/2015 20:55

Subsidies

Decide for yourself Prettyfeet. You've been pretty vocal (and nasty) on this thread so here's some reading for you. Go educate yourself on farming subsidies.

CuntCourtIsInSession · 26/03/2015 20:55

Whatever our differences, PrettyFeet, I didn't think you were having an underhanded go at me! Grin

MehsMum · 26/03/2015 20:55

I'm not responding to Pretty's gormless comments anymore.

PrettyFeet · 26/03/2015 20:57

The report button is hot on this thread I see Grin

I have got to go because.

  1. I find it ridiculous that people cry about a couple of kids chasing a few sheep when they're just going to KILL them anyway (how hypocritical)
  2. People call others stupid at the drop of a hat.

Think on, lots of you on this thread as you are very abusive.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 26/03/2015 20:59

If they want to salvage anything from this, and not have half the village hating them, they need to take an apology to the farmer, humbly, without arrogance or accusations about her perfectly reasonable behaviour, and also offer to pay any vets bills and compensation for lost lambs. And admit their ignorance and tell the farmer they are going to put that right now

This^

Sadly there seem to be laws about dogs worrying sheep, but not children. I guess the law naively assumes people are just not that stupid...

OddFodd · 26/03/2015 20:59

Prettyfeet You're no better than someone who kicks dogs or ties firecrackers to cats' tails.

florascotia · 26/03/2015 21:01

This is what the National Sheep Association says about worrying sheep by dogs. www.nationalsheep.org.uk/dog-owners.php#sheepworrying
To pregnant sheep, a bunch of excited children chasing them will be just as scary as a dog, and the fright will have just as serious consequences. Get real, OP and Pretty Feet, sheep worrying IS a major ordeal, in terms of animal welfare as well as from a financial viewpoint.

The OP and her adult friends should also have considered their children's safety. That's their responsibility. Sheep are nervous and easily scared; a frightened sheep, running fast, could easily knock a child over. Sheep are also devoted mothers and many ewes will not hesitate to attack anyone threatening their lambs - and that includes trying to 'play' with them.

As an earlier poster said, you were very lucky that rams were not with the sheep. If you'd ever seen rams fighting each other, you'd know how fierce they can be.

Maliceaforethought · 26/03/2015 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KatieKaye · 26/03/2015 21:01

But not nearly as scary as it was for the sheep.

It is probably a good lesson for them, namely that you do not mess around with animals. If the fear of a dog growling at them stops any future sheep chasing, then all to the good.

Karma and all that.

Of course, the blame has to lie with their parents. If they had taught their children properly, then the dog would not have been forced into the position of defending his flock

PrettyFeet · 26/03/2015 21:02

Grin hate animals me, hate em.

ThankFuckSpringIsHere · 26/03/2015 21:02

I find it ridiculous that people cry about a couple of kids chasing a few sheep when they're just going to KILL them anyway (how hypocritical)

The difference is the sheep are slaughtered in a humane way. It's not particularly humane to allow children to terrorise them. You bow out Prettyfeet and re-read your own posts in the morning when you're sober. Too many mojitos perhaps?

londonrach · 26/03/2015 21:03

Am hiding you op as this is really upsetting me. As said before ex young farmer and your stupid sil is causing alot of damage. Lovely mnhq has told me how. (Still crying). Op you own me chocolate!!!

GraysAnalogy · 26/03/2015 21:05

You're an idiot.
Your friends/family are idiots.

I've never been brought up in a farming town but I know not to bloody chase any animal. How can you be so fucking stupid, naive and then dare to feel like you were wronged?

Only1scoop · 26/03/2015 21:07

Disgraceful

Animals shouldn't be chased.

Feel sorry for our farmers who have to have crowds of unruly disrespectful families trudging over the right of way....

msgrinch · 26/03/2015 21:09

What form of adult allows children to chase sheep. How disgusting. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

As for threatening to kick the dog.... yeah as a pp said the dog had more sense than the lot of you. I'm shocked.

Only1scoop · 26/03/2015 21:10

I've got visions of you all on your 'walk' chasing sheep and threatening to kick dogs.

It's a very ugly picture

A real blot on the landscape

honeyroar · 26/03/2015 21:12

Nobody is calling your family stupid or thick to simply insult them, it just happens to perfectly describe how they behaved... You/they may have staggering IQs but it's not really evident on this thread.

msgrinch · 26/03/2015 21:12

Only time I'll say it but "poor children" being raised by people who think it's ok to scare animals.

Thisismyfirsttime · 26/03/2015 21:15

Am I the only one who sees the irony in the fact the OP has defended the kicking the dog comment by saying that as a parent, if the dog HAD bitten one of the children who were now minding their own business back on the path the dad would have had every right to kick the dog and to use any means necessary to stop the attack? Erm, OP perhaps flip that little imaginary scenario in your head and you may have something along the lines of what actually happened!

KatieKaye · 26/03/2015 21:15

Hmm, those mentions of The Archers and a good wickering make me wonder if there are some former inhabitants of Mustardland on here.

florascotia · 26/03/2015 21:16

Before you go PrettyFeet, most flocks of breeding ewes are kept - and well-cared for - for many years. They are not sent for slaughter straight after lambing. Instead, they feed and protect their lambs for many months, and teach them about their home area (sheep know and return to their home patch, and recent studies have shown that they recognise a lot more than was previously thought...). Then they become pregnant in the autumn, and produce another 'crop' of lambs for the following spring, etc etc.

I don't know who it was who mentioned shearing, but this is (a) done very quickly with as little as possible stress to the animal and (b) is for their welfare. Breeds differ, but most sheep would get too hot in summer if left unshorn; their unshorn fleeces can also become a breeding ground for pests and parasites.

On the subject of letting children stroke sheep - unless at a special petting zoo, that is never a good idea. Sheep's fleeces can get pretty dirty; sheep are also regularly treated - by dipping or pour-on stuff - with chemicals to kill parasites such as ticks, and doesed with powerful medicines to kill worms. And they can carry a disease that causes miscarriage in humans...

Spadequeen · 26/03/2015 21:19

The adults in your group including you were completely unreasonable, and your crap excuse of being a city dweller is utter bullshit, I live in the city, I know that it is not right to chase sheep, doesn't matter whether they are pregnant or not.

It's people like you that give other city dwellers a bad name, the famer was in the right to have a go.

MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 26/03/2015 21:20

OP: Please just go and live in an inner city high rise flat and stay there. You clearly know absolutely nothing about how to be in the countryside.

No common sense and no respect.

If your children had been dogs instead, would you have been happy for the farmer to shoot them?

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