Public Right of Way - people feeding our dog

[ThisIsMyTractor]

We have a field and at the bottom of the field, running along the whole of one side, is a public right of way. It's also a small part of a big national walk way so it gets busy in spring/summer.

We have fenced it off (the right of way) completely - it has a gate and a stile at one end and a kissing gate the other end. Not only is it fenced off, but I've had to run pvc coated chicken wire across the whole fence to stop people's dogs and people themselves from getting access to the field. It also stops our dogs from getting on to the public right of way.

Dp called me the other day because he said the dogs keep running off and could I watch the field and see what's happening. So I parked myself where I could watch and there are 2 people from the nearby village coming to the fence, calling the dogs then feeding them fgs. So what is happening now, which never happened before, is the dogs hear someone walking on the right of way and run down to see who it is (whether it's the people feeding them or not).

We're both really worried about the dogs getting stolen now let alone being fed when they shouldnt. I went down and spoke to the people who got really arsey with me and said they were doing a 'nice thing' and it gives them pleasure - they have continued to call the dogs every day.

I am genuinely at a loss. We've asked them not to and they refuse. Only thing we could do is now completely fence off this field from our own dogs which is a shame as half this field is our official garden. It would also be expensive for us to do this as the right of way end of the field is the shortest and narrowest side and the field gets wider towards us. We can also try and train the dogs not to respond but they have the run of the property at the moment and I'm not sure how successful we would be.

Is there anything else anyone can think of? Any rules that prohibit them doing this that I might not know about?

Wow. That’s awful. I can’t believe that even after you’ve spoken to them they’re continuing.

Can you run an additional fence a few metres inside the current boundary so that the dogs have the run of most of the field but can’t get close enough to take food?

It's outrageous isn't it! I can't quite believe it myself

My only concern with a fence a few metres in is that these idiots may still throw food for them - but I guess at least they won't be within reach of the dogs so less chance of grabbing them so maybe that is something to think of...

I saw them do it on Friday and when I started approaching them from the house they ran away !

I'd be tempted to pretend they made the dogs sick and present them with a fake vets bill - not to try to actually get money out of them but hopefully it could shock them into realising you can go around feeding other peoples animals.

Or if that's too far say they're on a restrictive diet - I think the time for that was the 1st time you spoke to them though

I’d put a full height solid fence a couple of meters inside the boundary and then plant a mixed hedge full of spiky plants in between.

As a much cheaper option, posters along the wall saying “do not feed these dogs” (Perhaps alluding to specialist diet / vets bills etc?) or posting a very polite message on local seek and sell also asking people not to feed them?

Run fence inside boundary
Apply for ROW diversion?

Follow the cheeky fuckers home and start chucking ham at their windows, see how they like it!

We won't get a row diversion as it's part of this national walk way and tbh it's on the easiest part of the property

Spiky bushes are a good idea actually - I could put a hedge border next to the fence that would work

I've found out where they live so I could put a note through the door. One of the dogs is a puppy and had an upset tummy last week and did have to go to the vet. Dp is a big, burly bloke and I suspect if he went round with the vet bill they might listen.

I just can't get why people can be so stupid

If you know where they live, might be worth a solicitor's letter. Will cost a few quid but might frighten them more than a note since speaking to them hasn't worked.

Thanks - is there a law against it though? I couldn't find anything unless I claimed animal cruelty?

@TheJackieWeaver

As a much cheaper option, posters along the wall saying “do not feed these dogs” (Perhaps alluding to specialist diet / vets bills etc?) or posting a very polite message on local seek and sell also asking people not to feed them?

It won’t work. Selfish people just do what they want. We’ve had this problem but with our horses. A local pony died recently from people feeding it. They had signs up If you put a second fence up people throw the food over. It’s like they think you’re in the wrong and you’re not going to stop them! People like this infuriate me!!

My suggestion is to plant something that will form a thick hedge along the fence, and put a second fence inside that so the plants don’t get damaged. Obviously it will take a couple of years, but should be a good long term solution. In the meantime, unfortunately I’d say keep the dogs near the house - the only way these numpties will stop coming is if they don’t get the pleasure of feeding your cute puppy and dogs. If you have a local Facebook page I’d put a worried post on there saying your dog has been at the vets due to scraps being put over the fence, or that it’s bringing rats to the area - you need a lot of the village affronted for you! Since the local horse was killed, a lot of publicity meant that lots of people know, and we’ve actually had other people (not owners) telling people off for feeding horses too, which has to help!

Thanks @Honeyroar and sorry to hear you've had these problems with your horse. The dogs are pretty indestructible with food but horses really aren't at all :( . That's good news about people starting to police it themselves. There is a lot that people don't understand about rural animals - what worries me as much as the food is the fact that the dogs now think the right of way is a source of food which of course means they are suddenly a lot more interested in it!

We aren't on Facebook but I do know the local village where they are from has a Facebook page. I also know the local dog walkers who bring dogs to our neighbouring field so I can try and speak to them and get them to post a message about it.

I've kept the dogs in the house this weekend apart from when I've walked them so I think if we did that for a few weeks maybe it will send a message. Sigh.

I don't know if there are laws about feeding animals but there are laws around rights of way. They are there to get from A to B, not to stop and cause a nuisance. I'm fairly sure there is case law around what you can and can't do, but a lawyer would be able to advise.

Would it be possible to get the ROW moved? My parents managed to to that with a bridle path on their property, they moved it to the field next door to the house (they owned the field too).

I wouldn't be having the dogs loose atm, particularly a puppy. Too much dog nicking going on, we're having to supervise our mutts even in the garden.

This sounds suspicious and I'd be very, very unhappy if it was my field.

What is wrong people?! This sort of behaviour infuriates me. Where I walk my dog various people, usually older couples, feed her treats. I've asked people not to but they still do. It's making her very disobedient as she runs up to people now expecting treats. I now have to put her on the lead if I see them, even on the horizon, as my dog would be off. If I were you I would put a fence in nearer your house so the dogs can't get near the footpath.

We’ve also had issues with our horses being fed by members of the public - I really don’t understand why people think it’s ok to feed other peoples animals, especially when they’ve been asked not to.

We mostly solved it by moving the horses to a different field with now ROW, although there are still a few die hard trespassers. It’s ballsed up our land management and hay supply for last and this year though.

We put up a second fence away from the ROW which helped a bit - people still chucked stuff over the fence or climbed over the gate but it did stop some of it.

If you know where they live, write a letter warning them that one of your dogs is on a special diet so if they continue to feed them they will be liable for vet bills

There was a whole thread recently about this issue but related to horses. It showed some non horsey people do not view horses as privately owned assets in the same way as they would someone's car or wallet. People would happily feed someone's horse and potentially damage or kill it who would probably never dream of keying your car or nicking money out of your wallet. In fact they would probably be horrified at the very thought. However in my mind there is no difference, it's criminal damage There was much confusion as to why horse owners were frustrated and not wanting to plaster their fields with signs, spend hours educating the great British public or even facilitating it like a bloody petting zoo....
Anyway you have my sympathy. I'd be sending DH around with the vet bill. I'd also speak to a solicitor, not sure what they can exactly do legally. But a strongly worded letter might just make them back off if they know you mean business.

My dog has kidney disease so any other food or treats would cause severe illness. I’d be furious! They’d be killing my dog.

You’ve asked nicely and they’ve refused to listen. I would definitely send dh round to tell them, not nicely, to stop. I would shout a lot and take the vet bill. And I would go round every day and shout at them until they stopped.

It would be ugly but could you get some Heras fencing for the time being? It's high so hard to throw things over and might be a cheaper immediate fix in terms of keeping your dogs away from the fence if you put up two rows. You could attach posters that explain It's there due to people feeding the animals and not stopping when asked.

Could you put an electric fence up your side? 6 ft away or so...just to stop the dogs getting to the fence?

@Covidcorvid

Could you put an electric fence up your side? 6 ft away or so...just to stop the dogs getting to the fence?

If I were putting up an electric fence it sophistication be where the dogs are - it would be where the people are! I think fast growing hedging is best, and gives some privacy too. In the short term, I live in a rural area and someone locally had a similar problem. They "outed" the "nice people" on all the local social media, etc., etc - there was even a lovely photo of them feeding the ponies posted in the local community hall - all with text saying they'd been asked not to, how damaging it was, and how it could potentially kill. They stopped. In fact, we never say them for three weeks! Shaming still works. And if it protects an animal, I'm in favour of it.

Wouldn't not sophistication- how the hell did predictive text get there?

Sadly I don’t think OP can put an electric fence up on a public right of way...sounds like she’s already fenced the edge of the path and she needs a good gap between that fence and any electric fence so her side is probably the only option.

We put metal palisade fencing up on a public right of way that goes through our field. Ugly as hell but stopped people letting their dogs run and shit all over the field. Sadly I guess people could still slip food through the gaps.