My dog has just done the worst thing

[93sdb]

Hes just chased a sheep into a pond in the snow. Im heartbroken.

When he was younger he chased sheep before and he has ALWAYS been on a lead since then. Sheep or not.

We were walking down a field a walk through daily that has never had sheep in in the 20 years I've lived here. He was on his extendable lead and it was on loose but he was right next to me. I opened the gate to go through and felt him pull on the lead. Saw the sheep and put the clip on so he couldn't get any closer and the lead snapped. He chased the sheep and would not come back. One jumped into a pond and I finally got him back.

Another girl from the house nearby helped me get the sheep out but it went into shock but was still breathing. I put my coat around it and sat with her whilst she called the farmer and another lad came over and said the farmer was going to be furious as this had happened earlier this morning. I gave them my number said I would pay any vet bills etc and left it with my coat wrapped around it.

The farmer has just called and spoken to my dad as I was too upset. He's shouted at my dad (understandably) and is threatening to get the police involved and wants immediate compensation and threatened to come and shoot my dog. The sheep is alive and is warming back up in this man's house and is expected to make a full recovery and I am going to walk up there later (WITHOUT THE DOG) to check on it.

I just wanted somewhere to write and be devestated. Im upset how the farmer spoke to my dad as it was a complete and utter accident but I understand his frustration. I wouldn't of even walked in the field with my dog if I had any clue there was going to be sheep in there. He hasn't got excited around them since the first time but I would never risk it.

Threads like this are an embarrassment and the reason why no one admits to using mumsnet in real life and why it gets the piss taken so frequently by the media.

OP if you do come back then I hope you're ok. It was an accident, you handled the consequences of it well, its clear you've learnt from it and nobody's dog has 100% recall in every single situation.

every time it happens round here, the dog owner scarpers and doesn't own up to it so I commend the OP for that
agree, OP should be commended!

This is local to me and has been going on for years, he is still being cruel to those animals.

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/6317741.stm

www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/welfare-probe-after-two-cows-die-218744/

worse things happen at sea.

@Lastbonestanding

It does sound like a bad accident but I don't understand what you were doing in someone's field. We live rurally. I would never open a gate to a field and walk my dog in it. If he maybe admitted about that? That's his private property where he keeps his livestock and you have brought a dog into it uninvited. I would apologise for that part. The lead snapping is very unfortunate and once he knows about that he may calm down. You did run off. You saved his sheep and left your details. He will shortly appreciate that. You could give him compensation for the vet bills and get a stronger rope type lead for walks in the countryside. Round here the farmers would shoot him.

If you live in a rural area then surely you realise that many public rights of way go straight through fields. I run rural footpaths, some go through fields of horses (I walk through those), some through fields of sheep (the farmers tend to move these flocks around through the year so that they get better grazing), fields of crops and there is even one area here that has a herd of cows that are allowed to roam over an area that is a couple of miles squared. I have every right to go through these fields and even take my dog with me on (on a lead), opening and closing gates as I go (OMG there are so many gates)

When he was younger he chased sheep before and he has ALWAYS been on a lead since then. Sheep or not. Once a sheep worrier always a sheep worrier. You have no business taking that dog on farmland.

Second one- this is a local farmer. Not so unusual near me then. Some people will defend anything that farmers do on this thread though.

www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/forge-farm-meats-tunbridge-wells-2090843

I hope you have hidden this thread op, I am now.

@Snoringmouse
Exactly. I have worked in the grounds of a slaughterhouse as a civil engineer. I have seen sheep give birth while waiting to be slaughtered. I have heard workers joke, kick and make fun of animals about to die. Famers don't give a shit about animals as long as they make money. I couldn't care less if they go out of business. It is a dying industry.

For farmers, animals are just pound signs. Sheep do not have a good life prior to slaughter (and they don't go peacefully I can tell you that for absolute certain). Sheep are brutalised by having their tails docked and castrated without anaesthesia. That's why shearers are paid by the fleece which can leave sheep maimed or dead.

OP showed more compassion for the sheep than any farmer. Someone who cares for animals doesn't threaten to shoot a dog. I imagine the farmer didn't even provide shelter to his sheep on a freezing day.

I am not a townie whoever said that. I am just not a hypocrite and not a psychopath. Enjoy your lamb chops ladies.

Please read this, I’m sure lots of you will be upset, scold me for no trigger warning but I’m posting this again.
Did the OP know how many sheep were in that field? Keep your dog under control. Simple really, and yes I am a dog owner.

www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/graphic-50-sheep-killed-in-dog-attack-on-a-welsh-farm/

I think that some people who 'own' land are aggressive and entitled. I think you are a responsible dog owner OP, it was an accident and you behaved honorably.

@Batinhernightdress

Problem is people always say the lead snapped so he won't believes that. Ewe is probably pregnant and high chance she will abort because of the stress.

What a grand assumption you have no idea if the ewe was pregnant, completely unnecessary comment

@derxa

When he was younger he chased sheep before and he has ALWAYS been on a lead since then. Sheep or not. Once a sheep worrier always a sheep worrier. You have no business taking that dog on farmland.

Absolutely.

@93sdb

Harnesses on dog encourage pulling (no idea why people use them) and an extendable lead gives you no control

Sorry you've gone through this, I'm sure you will find a more suitable lead to replace

Op I've had it happen. No pond but still a horrendous experience. Sheep taking us ridiculously by suprise. I think a lot of posters missed the detail that the white sheep were lying down in the snow. I took to using an extending lead for when I needed to keep him restrained. I am unlikely to use it again after this post so thank you. I can understand how shook up you are. It was an awful accident. You don't deserve all of the shit you're getting on here. X

[quote Idontlikethatnameanymore]Please read this, I’m sure lots of you will be upset, scold me for no trigger warning but I’m posting this again.
Did the OP know how many sheep were in that field? Keep your dog under control. Simple really, and yes I am a dog owner.

www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/graphic-50-sheep-killed-in-dog-attack-on-a-welsh-farm/[/quote]
No, she didnt even know there were sheep in there... as she's pointed out, she walks her dog through there DAILY and there has NEVER previously been sheep in that field for the previous 20 years.

Is she suddenly supposed to be psychic?

Anyway I have to hide this thread, not good for my emotional well-being

Some folk on here saying dogs can be trained not to chase sheep. I don't believe that's true. They either have it in them or they don't.

The OP did nothing wrong. She's suffering because other dog owners aren't as responsible as she is.

I would worry that there will be still born lambs as a result of this though.

[quote Idontlikethatnameanymore]Please read this, I’m sure lots of you will be upset, scold me for no trigger warning but I’m posting this again.
Did the OP know how many sheep were in that field? Keep your dog under control. Simple really, and yes I am a dog owner.

www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/graphic-50-sheep-killed-in-dog-attack-on-a-welsh-farm/[/quote]
Yes that was a hellish incident. We've had sheep worrying on our farm with losses. It's heart breaking.

There’s a public footpath running through his field, so people are entitled to walk on it. He can be a livid as he likes.

People are entitled to walk on it as long they keep their dogs under control and respect other people's property. So yes, the farmer can be as angry as he likes - he's entitled to. Loss of sheep mean loss of income for him. Even if the sheep were fine this time, its still taken a lot of time for him to sort out. And just because it has a right of way, it doesn't mean he can't use his land as he sees fit. It means people using it have to take appropriate precautions and be respectful.

Yes, he may have over reacted in the heat of the moment. But people have no idea how often things like this happen, the damage it causes and the time and money that's lost. And how often its turned around to be the farmers fault, its rude and insulting.

Farmers are on their knees at the moment.

The op may have behaved decently in rectifying her accidental mistake, but that's certainly not what most dog owners do in this situation - which is to most likely leg it and leave the farmer with no way to be recompensed.

@Dontfuckingsaycheese

Some folk on here saying dogs can be trained not to chase sheep. I don't believe that's true. They either have it in them or they don't.

My shepherd had to get rid of a dog because she was dangerous with sheep. That's someone who's trained dogs all of her life.

@myfriendsgivebadadvice

The OP did nothing wrong. She's suffering because other dog owners aren't as responsible as she is.

I would worry that there will be still born lambs as a result of this though.

The sheep wasn’t pregnant.

@sage46

I think that some people who 'own' land are aggressive and entitled. I think you are a responsible dog owner OP, it was an accident and you behaved honorably.

I think some people who think they are entitled to walk their dog anyway with no regard for other peoples property or livelihoods are selfish and entitled.

I remember one lambing season my grandfather lost 200 sheep (the majority of which were pregnant) due to numerous dog owners letting their dogs run free. It cost him THOUSANDS. He nearly lost his farm.

If you're going to walk on or near farmland you have to be 100% certain you can control your dog. Op behaved admirally, but most dog owner do not.

The sheep wasn’t pregnant.

Other sheep in the field could have been. Even if they weren't chased into the pond, they still could have been scared enough to miscarry.

The ewe was probably pregnant. We have sheep and they are currently in lamb ready for the spring.
Your situation is an unfortunate one.

My dh is a shepherd and unfortunately sees a lot of selfish dog owners. We had one man whose dog kept harassing our sheep and he thought that as long as he covered the costs it would be ok???? I would imagine that this farmer has probably had the same!!