Sheep worrying, called someone out on social media. I'm sure I wasn't BU but usually don't get involved.

[needastrongone]

So someone I'm 'friends' with on FB put an 'amused' comment today about her dog disappearing today, then reappearing about 10 minutes later chasing a pack of sheep....and wishing she'd videoed it...

12 people were amused by it...

I rarely make comments on FB but couldn't stop myself commenting that the sheep could have aborted and the dog been shot and that really wasn't funny....all very politely....

I know I'm not BU but I'm astounded folk thought this was in any way amusing or acceptable.

Seriously, was I BU? Was I?

The sheep know the farmer and hear his voice. The way a trained sheep dog is with sheep is totally differ to a dog on the rampage. The dog stays at distance and is controllable. Pregnant ewes don't need the Speed and gathering that a late summer flock that can require.

Your friend might not have found it so amusing if her dog had been shot, which it would've been around here.

Her dog has probably caused the death and abortion of several lambs, and, had the farmer seen it, the dog would have been shot. Quite frankly I’d share her post with the local police. I’d have absolutely no hesitation. It’s mind boggling stupidity and nastiness.

I think the main problem is that people assume the dog has to be aggressive to harm the sheep and cannot imagine their family pet behaving like that. That naive because pets CAN behave like that towards sheep once a chase is underway, even if they don't show that aggression to other animals in a home environment.

They think that if there has been no aggression then the dog has had fun and the sheep are used to being chased by a dog because they are herded by dogs. They do not realise the risk of death or spontaneous miscarriage due to the shock of being chased.

I wish they did.

As a dog owner it sickens me that some people own dogs and can be so ill informed about the responsibility they have to their dogs and everyone else. I have never walked through a sheep field with an off leash dog - no matter how old, slow, well behaved the dog. It is not fair to the sheep or farmer (or the dog) for me to do so.

I read somewhere recently that approx. one dog a week is shot in the UK for worrying and this is a very small number compared to the instances of worrying that result in sheep/lamb harm.

What a fucking cunt!! We've had two sheep worrying incidents recently. One poor sheep had its face torn off and then died later from an infection. It's heart breaking.

Police are taking saliva DNA samples from maimed sheep and checking it with suspect dogs so there can be a good chance of prosecution. Your twattish friend would do well to speak to the owner of the stock and the police now before this goes any further.

I rarely make comments on FB but couldn't stop myself commenting that the sheep could have aborted and the dog been shot and that really wasn't funny....all very politely ...

the only unreasonable bit was being polite. Idiots like her have no right to expect polite.
I hope she is completely mortified and gets a cold chill when she thinks of the mayhem she has caused/potentially caused

LionsTeeth Sheep dogs herd sheep, they dont chase them. When the shepherd knows his ewes are pregnant he wont hurry them along at all. Its not the same as being hunted by an excited pet dog.

but do pregnant sheep not get rounded up by sheep dogs if it can cause miscarriages? They don't chase. The dogs are trained to walk the sheep to the correct place.

She's really not my friend other than on Facebook, from quite some time ago.

I'm now wondering if I ought to take it further...that thought didn't honestly cross my mind initially.

I'm a life long city dweller -with no dog or sheep experience! Just wanted to say that I had no idea about this sort of situation. How horrible for the poor sheep. Well done for calling it out
(And also- farmers can shoot dogs?! Had no idea!)

It’s just this sort who moan when the dogs shot by a rifle.

I reported an idiot on a nt property whose two small dogs had a flock running around a field. Two farm vehicles tore across the fields minutes later to stop it.

He put them back on the lead.

YANBU. WTAF is wrong with people?

She's lucky her dog is still alive, as the ones round here openly state on gate posts/stiles that any dog seen to be worrying livestock will be instantly destroyed. What an utterly irresponsible owner, I'd send the video/post to the RSPCA .

Please screenshot it and report it to the Police.

I live in a town, surrounded by countryside. A couple of weeks ago there was a so -story of a post of a husky with a kid, which had been shot by a farmer for running amongst the sheep. There were lots of “aww what a shame evil farmer”type posts, but far more “it’s your own fault - don’t let a dog off lead in those circumstances, it is really dangerous” ones. Total idiots. Anyone with half a brain should know why it should never happen.
I’d screenshot the posts and send via FB messenger to the local police if you can OP. And good for you on calling her out.

I’ve just a post on FB where someone took a video of two women letting their dogs worry sheep thinking it’s funny. It’s had loads of shares and comments. Wonder if it’s the same friend OP?

If you do want to do something about it OP you could email your local branch of the NFU with any info you have. Most of them are pretty active on Facebook and will be able to get a message out to lots of farmers in the area who might be seeking information about any recent sheep worrying incidents.

Agree with scrowy.

I feel your rage, OP. I'm surprised so many people think that's funny.

They are being unreasonable, selfish and every kind of awful.

Why can't people leave animals alone?

I did the same when a fb friend posted about picking up and petting the newborn lambs on his walk. Some people are so bloody self centred and do what they want without thinking of the consequences. Drives me mad.

Sweet Jesus, it's heading into lambing season. Are they complete fucking morons?

Here's a link to post on their feed.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/countryside/12192164/Sheep-worrying-Only-education-can-end-this-appalling-problem.html

You’re all vegetarians I presume, worrying about poor lambs? Because they’re destined to such a lovely, full, pain free life. Not at all the organic lamb chops you pick up at m&s

Friend of mine had a small flock of tups last year, that they were raising for mutton. A dog got to them. She found two dead, ripped to bits, and another was so traumatised they couldnt get it back into its field - it roamed the rest of the farm by itself instead. She said she had never felt like she could shoot a dog - until she found her poor sheep.

Your friend is a fucking idiot.

I t was people on sledges terrorising the sheep on the farm today. Can’t shoot them on their sledges can you.