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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to be concerned about picknickers with dog loose in field of sheep?

29 replies

HyacynthBucket · 16/08/2019 16:56

Not sure if I abu. Yesterday in the countryside I saw couple with a dog enter a field of sheep. There was no real access into the field - I think they got through a fence - and there was no public footpath in the field either. They had a large bag and sat down, with the dog running around loose among the sheep. It looked as though they were going to have a picnic. I was too far away to be heard, and a river in between us, but in any case not sure if I needed to be concerned. The sheep moved away from the dog as it ran around, but they did not run or panic. I looked it up afterwards, and it seems it is illegal to have a dog in a field of sheep unless under tight control, ie. a lead or very reliably obedient, which this dog did not appear to be. Would welcome Mumsnetters' views, especially those who know farming.

OP posts:

RatherBeRiding · 16/08/2019 16:59

Yes it's illegal. You should have phoned the non-emergency police immediately.

Dogs are allowed on public footpaths but most farmers try to avoid having sheep in fields with public footpaths running through them, for this very reason. Cattle are usually able to look after themselves pretty well but sheep are, unfortunately, fair game for certain dogs.

RatherBeRiding · 16/08/2019 16:59

And I believe farmers are within their rights to shoot loose dogs in with their sheep.

Hedgehogblues · 16/08/2019 17:01

It's legal for farmers to shoot loose dogs in sheep fields

BlueSkiesLies · 16/08/2019 17:01

Shame it wasn’t cattle, the stupid fuck wits would have come off rather worse. It’s so shit for farmers when people think they have a right to access their land and fuck with their livestock.

If the farmer had been about he’d have been within his rights to have shot the dog.

PancakeAndKeith · 16/08/2019 17:03

It was very much illegal. They had as much right to go into that field as they would do someone’s garden.

I believe the farmer could have shot the dog, although I don’t think any would be pregnant at this time of year, I don’t know much about sheep farming.

I wouldn’t want to set up for a picnic in a field full of sheep mind you. Not much you can do about it now though.

LaLoba · 16/08/2019 17:06

I live in sheep country, they are idiots. And they are putting their dog at risk of being shot too. It’s currently tourist season here and I’m sick to the back teeth of people who think that as long as their dog is having fun it’s all a harmless game, and that livestock, children and the whole world should be ok with their badly controlled dog. I’m a dog owner and adore dogs, btw.

Spidey66 · 16/08/2019 17:06

It's certainly illegal, in the lambing season sheep have been so distressed by dogs they have miscarried. Some people haven't the sense they were born with.

Throckmorton · 16/08/2019 17:08

Even before the dog is taken into account they are fuckwits for trespassing

BettysLeftTentacle · 16/08/2019 17:09

Missing the point I know but.....

Why the fuck would you choose to have a picnic in a sheep field?! There’s usually sheep shit all over the place!

YeOldeTrout · 16/08/2019 17:41

they may own the field, perhaps the sheep were the trespassers

Lowlandlucky · 16/08/2019 17:41

[Throckmorton] OP doesnt say which country she was in, in Scotland we have the right to roam so there is no such think as trespass. I assume OP is in England or Wales as she mentioned public footpaths.
Dog walkers are a bloody nightmare in the countryside and frankly a backside full of buckshoot in their backside would not be a bad idea

Coffeeandchocolate9 · 16/08/2019 17:42

they may own the field, perhaps the sheep were the trespassers

Zaphodsotherhead · 16/08/2019 17:51

Actually I've never met sheep that didn't run or panic when there was an unknown dog in with them. Even sheep that know us well tend to scoot about in all directions when I walk through them with my dog (on the short lead).

So I dunno what these sheep were on - they're normally climbing the fences at the mere sniff of a dog. So maybe the people did own the field...

HairyDogsOfThigh · 16/08/2019 18:09

Well, you're not unreasonable to be concerned. If the sheep and field don't belong to the dog owners then the farmer has a right to shoot the dog, as it should be kept under close control near livestock. If you (or anyone else) sees a loose dog chasing sheep, then they should immediately call the non emergency police number and report it, or even better, drive to the nearest farm and let them know, even if it is not their field, they will know whose it is and alert the correct farmer.
Having said that, in this case it sounds as though the dog was not worrying the sheep, if the sheep moved away and the dog returned to the picnickers, so perhaps in this case, I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to take further action. Depends on what the dog was doing and how interested in the sheep it was. I often take my dog through our sheep, the sheep move away and i continue my walk, but there is never any chasing involved. My dog is supremely uninterested in sheep.

Original poster

HyacynthBucket · 16/08/2019 18:11

No, they were definitely visitors. I live in the country, and you can instantly tell who is from hereabouts by lots of little clues, including the fact that townies never make eye contact or speak. I had passed this pair earlier on a very narrow footbridge, and the man just barged past ignoring me, as I said hello. The woman looked quite surprised but did answer hello.
If it had been around lambing time there would definitely have been an issue with the dog in the field, but luckily these sheep seemed very placid.

OP posts:

stucknoue · 16/08/2019 18:16

It's illegal. I have a very well trained sheepdog (well he was a reject so he lives a life of leisure with us) and still I put him on a lead. He can actually round up sheep

fifig87 · 16/08/2019 18:19

How on earth did they think in any way they could do that. Wouldn't have liked to be them if the farmer caught them.

On my parents farm they have a couple of breeds. One breed in particular is quite docile. But if anyone went near one of the rams they would know all about it. Wouldn't go near a field with him in it.

helpmeiamatoad · 16/08/2019 18:23

I remember as a child of about 8, watching my dog chase a sheep until it jumped into the canal at the bottom of the field to get free. Obviously aged 8 I wasn’t responsible for the dog but I still feel shame to this day. Dogs should be kept away from not only sheep but all livestock (actual working dogs excused obviously)

missbattenburg · 16/08/2019 18:23

Oh FFS. Some idiots shouldn't be allowed dogs. All it does is give the rest of us a bad name - see above for how dog walkers are a pita in the countryside. Presumably only the irresponsible shit ones are but we all get lumped into that bucket.

Anyone taking a loose dog into a field of sheep (except the farmer) is a celfish sunt

MitziK · 16/08/2019 18:23

They're fucking over entitled idiots who deserve to be shot. Unfortunately, it's generally the poor bloody sheep and dogs that pay the price for such arseholery.

Mind you, sheep = ticks and ticks can = Lyme. Perhaps nature will have the last laugh here.

I'd be tempted next time if they were within earshot to tell them that the fields are infested with Lyme Disease carrying ticks even if they're not. And obviously report them anyway.

KilledByHerOwnCardigan · 16/08/2019 18:25

I've seen firsthand the kind of damage a dog can do to an animal while "playing." You are not being unreasonable. Sounds like someone wanted a picturesque picnic (or instagram moment) and didn't care about the reality.

derxa · 16/08/2019 18:30

Sounds bizarre
but luckily these sheep seemed very placid. The sheep are in danger from a dog who is 'only playing'.

MrsCasares · 16/08/2019 19:12

They are idiots. Don’t know about shooting the dog, might make more sense to shoot the humans.

Willow2017 · 16/08/2019 19:31

Tbh you should have called the police. If the farmer had arrived he would have every right to shoot the dog.
I wish they would bring back those public info adverts with pictures of mutilated sheep/pregnant sheep aborting on them and spell it out to all the idiots who go out in the countryside.
Why on earth do.people think letting their dog chase farm animals is ok?

greengrower · 16/08/2019 21:04

All year round, farmers have the right to shoot a dog in a field with sheep. The dog doesn't even need to be actively worrying the sheep, if the farmer thinks there is danger, the farmer can shoot the dog, legally.
Those people are utterly stupid. And yes, trespassing if not in Scotland.

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