If my dog killed a sheep I'm the one responsible yes?

[YerAWizardHarree]

THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO MY DOG

Just seen a post on my local group that said a dog had got loose and killed 4 sheep so the farmer had shot it dead. Loads of people saying it was disgusting that the dog was shot, whereas my point of view was that it 100% is the owners fault for having a dog that had poor recall of the lead. I mentioned it to my local dog training group and I've been called a cunt, a fucking disgraceful human being. I'm not saying that the dog should have been shot I'm saying that the owner is at fault for allowing the situation

Legally it is not a given that a farmer can shoot a dog BUT under the Animal Wefare Act owners must prevent suffering so being able to prevent the sheep being injured coes under that.

The farmer has to prove their was no other option and they had a lawful excuse. There needs to be no other "reasonable" means of stopping the dog.

However in all the cases I have seen or heard off the farmer wins the cases.

As a stock owner myself it is a huge worry.Just put your dog on a lead near live stock better than death by any means!

My dsis dog, years ago, was taken for a walk by a (stupid) visiting relative who let the dog off the lead in a field where she chased sheep. Didn’t kill any thank goodness.
The police turned up at my dsis home and she was warned if it happened again the dog would be pts.
I’m surprised a dog group don’t understand this.

Agree OP. Terrible for the dog. And loss of income for the farmer. It's a lose-lose situation all round. :(

I saw two sheep that had been attacked by a dog recently, just stumbled across them on my walk (my dog was on the lead!). One was dead and the other was wounded and very distressed. The farmer had to have it put down. It was so sad. The dog owner was never found.

Of course its the dog owner's responsibility and a dog training group should understand that.

Yes, the dog owner is responsible and should be prosecuted for any losses if need be. If the dog can’t be called off and carries on doing damage than yes, it should be shot. It’s not any farmer wants to do but I know I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot something that is killing my sheep and can’t be controlled. Why would a dog’s life trump a sheep’s?

Although I think it's sad for the dog. Especially as your op says it got loose. That's just pure bad luck. That's assuming he did just escape and wonder off and I would have some sympathy with the owner in that situation BUT the farmer wouldn't know that and if someone else's animal is attacking his then he is in the right.

Years ago my friends dog chased some sheep and 2 jumped into a river in fear and died.The farmer charged my friend 200 per sheep and said she was lucky he didn't shoot her dog.Sheep worrying is a serious thing

While the law is on the farmers side - you say the dog “got loose”. Let’s say your dog, as far as you knew, was happily in your garden and next thing you know it’s been shot in a field a mile down the road - you’d be devastated.

So while you’re right - if the owner is in that group, maybe have a heart and let them let off their understandable emotions.

Where on earth do you live that locals find it disgusting that a dog terrorising and killing sheep was shot? Around here nobody would take issue with the farmer's sad but necessary actions. Do you live near large new estates full of city commuters?

If a dog was there long enough to kill four sheep then it's owner doesn't have the control of it they should. Poor farmer. He/she would have taken no joy in destroying a dog but had no choice.

I grew up on a sheep farm and dad had to do this once. Sheep were attacked and injured. Thank goodness he caught the dog in action before any sheep died.

But what are the people on your Facebook site saying.... that the sheep lives mean nothing? How many more would be acceptable for the dog to kill? What if the farmer tried to physically stop him (rather than shooting it) and he got hurt - is that ok too? How would they suggest the farmer handles a dangerous dog?

The owner of the shot dog should be banned from ever owning another one. They've done a total disservice to the poor animal by not understanding the full responsibility of being a dog owner.

Our dog will chase sheep and rabbits so she is kept on a lead at all times when walking anywhere that's not an enclosed, safe place.

Totally the dog owners responsibility. Dogs do escape/slip leads sometimes and yes, I'd be devastated if it happened to my dog, but I'd understand that it was my responsibility and I had failed to meet that, through accident or negligence on my part, it's still my responsibility.
Had dog off lead worrying our horses before, there's yard dogs and they are good around the horses, potter around the fields and the horses pay them no heed as the dogs don't bother them, this loose dog actively chased and nipped at heels, causing one horse to jump out, catching and cutting a leg, and another to come down trying, another horse sent the dog reeling with both back feet. Owner got short shrift when they came asking for their vet bill to be paid and was presented with the vet bill for two horses (which included treatment for dog bites on heels/legs) and a fencing repair bill. If one of mine had been involved I think I'd have pushed to have the horses vet bill paid.
It's not hard, control your dog around livestock or the dog and the other animals involved will pay the price, and that's before you get to vet bills.

@Covidchameleon the owner has said that as the dog is a husky it's natural for her dog to want to chase sheep and it's beyond her control to stop it.

@YerAWizardHarree ah ok, then she/he sounds like a complete dick.

Perhaps she should purchase her own sheep for him to hunt then?!! Ridiculous.
I assume he also gets free reign on the neighbourhood cats too?

My uncle is a farmer. His neighbours dog got out of his neighbours garden and terrorised my uncles sheep. My uncle managed to chase the dog back to its garden ( after several sheep had been injured). He told them he would shoot the dog if he found it attacking his sheep again.
The next week he had to shoot the dog.
The neighbours called the police bit the police told them that there was nothing they could do. Their dog was out of control on private farmland when it shouldn't have been.
I have no sympathy for them but I do feel sorry for the dog who wasn't properly cared for.

Agree with everyone else here. For as long as I can remember, I was taught that a farmer has the right to shoot any dog worrying his livestock. All my adult life I've had German Shepherds. It's in their nature to chase/round up sheep, but I just don't let them get in a situation where they can. If they happened to escape and the worst happened, I'd be devastated about the dog but fully understanding of the farmers reaction. I struggle to understand anybody that wouldn't.

But it would have needed to be put down anyway, once they've killed livestock they will do it again and can get vicious.

Has that be proven? I thought it was a myth, first taste of blood and all that.

[quote YerAWizardHarree]@Covidchameleon the owner has said that as the dog is a husky it's natural for her dog to want to chase sheep and it's beyond her control to stop it.
[/quote]
wtf have they ever heard of keeping the dog on a lead? especially a sled dog type with a very high prey drive.
but hey, they look sooo instagramable

Was this in sandbach. I've also just read about a runner with her dog where it went into a field and the farmer shot the dog.

Do the dog group only care about dogs being killed and not sheep? I saw a dog chasing sheep in the summer and the owners were weakly calling the dog which he was of course ignoring. So stupid

[quote YerAWizardHarree]@Covidchameleon the owner has said that as the dog is a husky it's natural for her dog to want to chase sheep and it's beyond her control to stop it.
[/quote]
That’s true, it is in husky’s nature to chase and hunt. All the more reason for the owner to make sure they control it and keep it on the lead.

I have a husky cross and she has good recall, 99% of the time. But, if she sees a rabbit or squirrel, she’s off. I know this which is why I keep her on the lead and only let her off in enclosed areas, where I know she can’t escape. I wouldn’t even attempt to take her near livestock as I know she’ll chase.