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

[Firethorn]

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?

Oh, and if people choose to move somewhere (the countryside/another country/whatever), it is THEIR responsibility to educate themselves about the customs and laws of their new location - it is not the existing residents' responsibility to spoon feed them.

Nobody set out to terrorise
That exactly what the children did!

Since more and more 'townies' are moving into country areas, it would be wise for farmers to educate people rather than assume everyone knows the country ways
This is rather like saying that French people living in an area of France where a lot of English people buy houses should learn to speak English.

Some people honestly seem to think that the countryside is there just for their entertainment. It is a factory floor. If you find it all so complicated then sod off back to the towns.

Julia - please explain why it is not a big issue to chase and scare a pregnant animal that might miscarry or have a stillbirth as a resul.

I don't see any hysteria, Julia, just people commenting on the amazingly crass stupidity of people allowing their children to harass animals, something which the OP cannot seem to grasp.

Msgrinch. I'm guessing they don't have dogs, or she would have said their dog was also upset by the collie.

Yes, it's hysterical to point out that scaring sheep that might be pregnant may cause them to miscarry.

It's also hysterical to point out that the OP is being spectacularly stupid about her family's behaviour.

Idiots.

But surely it would occur to any adult, townie or no, that chasing an animal -any animal -is wrong? They are running away because they are scared. That's not nice even when said animal isn't pregnant. Imagine something or someone that you were scared of chasing you. Would it be pleasurable? Would you think it cute and funny? I don't think so. At least you could comprehend why; the sheep haven't got a clue. The kids are actually bloody lucky they were not butted by any fiery ewe's -I have been several times and it bloody hurts if they catch you right.

Exactly! Poor loves being scared by a dog doing what a working dog does

AHEM

Firethorn responiblity

I move to the USA, I might need to think about getting a visa, work towards a green card.
I decide to move to Italy, I might need to learn the language
I decide to have sex, I might think about contraception
I move to the country and I might have a teeny little think about walking with my children through a field full of livestock

Townies shouldn't stay out of the countryside to the pp who mentioned it, I have lived in London my whole life and I do not go to the countryside and fuck about with any animals! It's not something that's only known to country folk that animals should be respected in their own environments.

I walk in the country often with lots of kids and not one has ever chased a sheep

I don't believe a word of it really. No one is this ignorant.

Are people really so ignorant? How can anyone think it's ok to let their children harass animals?

I repeat.

I see no hysteria.

I do see anger though - at the level of stupidity displayed by theses people.

And the point may well have been made in the first couple of pages Mintyy but the OP doesn't seem to have taken it on board and continues to think the farmer was at fault...

Even if you had no idea about the fact that chasing pregnant sheep could lead to death of sheep and lamb why on earth would you think it was okay to chase an animal with sticks?

That's just fucking stupid.

And why the hell should the farmer have to put signs up on their many, many gates to stop twats being twats.

As if twats would pay attention to signs anyway...

It's a good job they didn't decide to cut through the field with the low, wire fence and a couple of big cows in it ...

Rest assured, we're on this like Justin Elliot on a blocked culvert

There's many a farm near me (little village off a lovely town in Sussex) people live here and commute to London daily, no one has been this disrespectful to farmers. They'd have more than a rant and snarling dog if they did.

it would be wise for farmers to educate people rather than assume everyone knows the country ways. Shouting, swearing, behaving like a bully and letting a snarling farm-dog intimidate children does not breed mutual respect and tolerance. It only widens the gap between farmers and newcomers and creates resentment.

So if you move somewhere, the people there have to change to consider you and accommodate your culture? They are the ones that have to be responsible for ensuring mutual respect and tolerance even if you obviously cannot be bothered to ensure you behave in a respectful and tolerant manner towards them?

I am sorry, but I think this is rather an appalling attitude. If you move to an area where there is a different culture, there is no obligation for the people there to change to your liking or comfort.

You sound like a bit like a Brit that moves to Greece and complains that the locals speak Greek and the shops aren't open at lunchtime.

Who is Justin Elliot exactly?

That joke went right over my head like Niagra Falls.

Oh, and how rich that the OP branded the farmer a bully.

Because chasing sheep with sticks isn't bullying at all. Oh no.

It's just animal cruelty.

'Is it OK to chase and terrorise animals as long as it is not a crime'

Of course not. And let me point out the children were not intending to be cruel or terrorise the sheep. They were pretending to be sheepdogs and farmers, trying to gather the sheep into a flock. The sheep were not running in fear or showing signs of distress, they were eating grass and moving away from the children when they came close. They seemed irritated/confused rather than scared. SIL pointed out the sheep are used to be herded, and while I don't agree this makes it ok for kids to try and do the same, I do see why she thought of it as a harmless game.

And just to re-cap, I am not defending their behaviour. I'm just pointing out there is a big difference between deliberately inflicting terror on animals and causing distress through ignorance. As I said before, in an area where there are a lot of newcomers and tourists, signs on gates would be sensible.

OP, perhaps in some parallel universe, you expected that the farmer would have invited you all in for a nice cup of tea and homemade cake and gently explained the ways of the country before going off to deal with her traumatised flock? Would that have been an acceptable response from her or would she have had to deal with further abuse from your friends' husband? The fact that HE'S angry is laughable, quite honestly.

There's a lot of anger on here and this from people who aren't affected by this! And please leave the dog alone. It was doing its job, and doing it very well. You NEEDED to be snarled at, so it did. Good dog.

I'm actually going to hide this because I'm getting overly annoyed.

Shocking.