To be a bit peeved with police response?

[MoreLidlThanWaitrose]

I recently had a really frightening experience with some dogs. I’m not at all afraid of dogs and can handle myself around boisterous animals. These dogs (very large foxhounds) live on a farm locally to me. They run free on the land, despite a public footpath on the land. I semi-regularly use this path and the dogs will often come up to me and bark/howl and sort of ‘escort me off the farm’ (the cycle goes: use footpath, get harassed by dogs, avoid footpath for a while, remind myself is a public right of way, repeat). The last time I used the path however, I genuinely thought I might be killed. The dogs were howling, snapping, jumping, snarling, teeth baring, and leaping up at me. I couldn’t turn around because they were right behind me so had to cross my arms, avoid eye contact, and walk steadily towards the other side of the farm. All the while trying not to freak the fuck out. The dogs are taller than labradors and on their hind legs are about my height so not small!

After consideration, I reported this incident to the non emergency police. I worry that someone who is less dog savvy or panicked and ran, or someone with children could get seriously hurt or killed by these dogs. They should not be loose on a public footpath, especially not without supervision. I know neighbours have reported similar incidents.

I received a feedback email yesterday which basically said: We’ve visited the property and spoke to the owners and checked that they have safety measures in place. Please make sure you keep to the public footpath.

It reads like an accusation! There is literally one route you can take and there still shouldn’t be bloody massive aggressive dogs on it!!

That's fine? They're saying the owners don't have to care about their own land but have to protect the public footpath from their dogs?

The police can't do much more at this point, really, though can they?

Yanbu at all about these dogs and your experience but the police have done what they're able to according to the law so far.

It might be enough.

Tbh if you know this will occur why not walk somewhere else?

All the police have is your verbal complaint with no evidence and what they saw and heard on the farm. What did you expect?

next time video the dogs on your phone. That might help.

Because previously they have been ‘a bit barky and close’ rather than downright hostile.

There's a saying about repeating the same behaviour over and over again yet expecting different results. Don't do it. You know what the dogs are there for. You may not like it but it's unlikely to end in anything other than unhappiness for you. At the least.

Next time you use it, record on your phone what the dogs are doing.

It didn’t even occur to me to record it at the time because I was so focussed on not being bitten which I realised immediately after I should have done.

Now you know, just avoid, why are you repeatedly putting yourself in an uncomfortable situation, very odd.

All of those saying the op should avoid that area, that’s fine for her, but what about anyone else using the path? They may not know about the dogs, it’s a disaster waiting to happen and the dog owners should be made to ensure the public’s safety, not be able to use the dogs as a deterrent to ensure no one uses that footpath

It's a PUBLIC footpath - we should be reclaiming it - you have to write back to them and tell them you were only on the footpath and the dogs were on it

It sounds like you think aggressive dogs should be allowed to run free on public footpaths? And people should not use the public footpaths...have I misunderstood or entered a parallel universe?

That would be pointless.

The police reminded the op to stay on the public footpath because that's the only place she has a right to be. It wasn't an accusation.

They have to be seen to be fair to be both parties.

The dogs are now on their radar and the owner has been warned.

I'm baffled by people (probably dog owners themselves) telling the OP to simply not use the path. Why should she? What about other people? OP clearly states her concern for others. What is actually wrong with dog owners, I don't want to spend my time in a public space worrying about other people's animals. It's not OK- our culture needs a shift on this.

This isn't a "public space" it is a right of access across private land. I've been "threatened" by horses and cows in similar circumstances and have just had to route round that particular field. I can't remember the rules about keeping animals in fields with a footpath - eg in the case of, say, a bull I think they might just have to put a sign up ...?

A right of way is a public space and there are scarce few of them left

No, they aren't public spaces. You can only use them to walk from A to B. They are purely a right of way to travel over the land. You can't stop to picnic/play games/whatever, you can just walk on them.

Sympathies. Foxhounds are as creepy as f**k.
Personally, I’d walk elsewhere. You’ve done what you can with regard to the safety of others.

Take hotdog sausages. Make friends.

Is it a public footpath, or a public right of way? If the latter, then dogs are not considered to be dangerous (other than specific breeds), and so the land owner is within his / her rights to allow them free access.

However, if the land owner has been made aware that the dogs are causing a nuisance and are potentially dangerous, they need to be controlled. You need to report to the local authority and the health and safety executive though, and not the police.

If it's a public footpath then your local authority have a duty to maintain and keep us safe for users so report it to them.
The police can only deal with dogs if they are dangerously out of control in a public place which normally would mean they won't prosecute unless the dog has attacked / bitten you.
At the moment it's your word against the landowner.

This is incorrect. The legislation now applies to dogs dangerously out of control whether in a public or a private place, although there is a defence which covers 'trespassing' situations.