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.

[quote HypocriticalKiss]@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.[/quote]
Exactly this. That farmer likely gives not one shiny shite about that sheep’s well-being or its lamb, all it will be to him is money. Threatening to shoot a firearm at a family pet in retaliation is disgusting.

@krustykittens Of course it would cost a lot of money but it would mean peace of mind for farmers and ramblers. So many people have been killed by cattle as well as all the dog/sheep incidents. And even though I agree it would be good if people just "behaved", we can all get caught on the hop on occasion. And of course, some people are just stupid. (I'm not referring to the OP, I don't think she was stupid. She sounds very caring, especially in taking responsibility.)

@93sdb I’ve not read the full thread but have read all of your posts.

My family are farmers (albeit we’re in Scotland where we’re quite a bit more accommodating to walkers).

Honey, you did everything you could/should and you shouldn’t feel so bad. It was a genuine accident and you did everything within your power to make it right. Learn your lesson about the extending lead, but that’s all. I wish everyone was as responsible as you.

The farmer was an arse. If I had been in your position I would have reported him to the police for threatening your dog after the fact.

And the other thing I would suggest .... you say it was the second time it happened to the farmer that day? Make sure you are not held liable for any damage caused by the previous person.

Oh for fuck sake the sheep is fine now

The farmers probably going to have it killed soon anyway - the poor thing!

He sounds like a dick threatening to shoot your dog!

I’d just forget about it now and engage no further with him! He can’t sue you if the sheep is fine now - no harm done

I would leave it. You have given him your details. If he chooses to get the police involved, you can explain what happened. Be careful about compensation. You have no idea what the costs would be so be careful with what you promise.

And I certainly don’t think you should be going to check on it, and risk an interaction with some lunatic who threatened to discharge a firearm at your pet. Terrible man.

A very unfortunate event and I hope the sheep makes a full recovery. The only positive thing I take from this is the OP taking responsibility for the actions of the dog, which some people who have a dog would not do.

@bitheby

Well if it happened twice in one day, arguably the farmer should learn from this that putting sheep in a field that had never had sheep in it before requires signage up to warn unsuspecting dog owners.

You did everything you could. He is understandably upset but the sheep didn't die; you didn't leave it to die and you could've done. Hopefully he'll learn from this too.

Oh for fucks sake!!

You should check what is in the field before you let your dog loose. Every time! Or this is what happens. I’d never ever let my dogs run where I can’t see the coast is clear.

I’m sorry OP, you’ve clearly had a horrible day, and I admire you for doing all you could for that sheep, but I can also understand why the farmer is angry. If it was his bull that had chased your dog and very nearly killed it you’d probably be just as angry. Plus at this time of the year sheep are often heavily pregnant and can abort their lambs after a shock.

As you said, pay any vets bills, apologise profusely and promise you’ll never ever have that dog off lead in the country again (because it really cannot be trusted). And hope the farmer calms down.

Flexileads are shit and they all belong on a bonfire.

You did your best for the sheep, hope she is OK.

It's not clear from your OP, should you have been in the field at all? Does it have a public footpath running through it and were you on said path or at large in the field?

You need to wait and see what happens next, the sheep could abort their lambs as a result of the stress of being chased by a dog.
It's good you have faced up to your responsibilities and let the farmer know what happened.

I think a letter of apology to the farmer and outlining the steps you will be taking to make sure it NEVER happens again would be a good idea.

You poor thing. I feel for you as it sounds like you did everything you could and it was just rotten luck the lead snapped. I assume the lead was old / damaged? Perhaps leave it a day or so before reaching out to the farmer. Hopefully the sheep pulls through.

I think a letter of apology to the farmer and outlining the steps you will be taking to make sure it NEVER happens again would be a good idea.

DON’T do that. If you do have insurance, that kind of action can void it, as it is an admission of liability 🤦‍♀️

@yohoheaveho

It is a natural instinct, prey - predator. And it is an unconscious reaction too. They see a prey animal running and their unconscious instinct is to chase it. And in that moment, they are deaf to their owners calling it. So yes, a well trained dog can have good recall in pretty much every other situation except this one. And the reason why recall doesn't work is because the owner is literally shouting against mother nature. And no, it does not mean that they will chase down a running human either.

It's not clear from your OP, should you have been in the field at all? Does it have a public footpath running through it and were you on said path or at large in the field?

It’s been mentioned multiple times that the OP was on a public footpath.

Glad the sheep is going to be ok.

The farmer sounds like a complete twat, threatening to shoot your dog. 😡 If he’s threatened to shoot my dog, I’d have reported him. He only cares about the sheep because they are money to him. Lots of farmers claim to care about the animals but they’re just cash and anyone who cares about animals doesn’t go around threatening to shoot a dog.

It sounds like a terrible experience for you OP so hope you’re doing ok now. You did everything possible. 💐

Not rtft but just advice: don't use a harness and a long lead. Harnesses allow dogs to.use the full weight of their body to pull with.

Sled dogs have harnesses built for specifically this reason.

Harnesses are not meant for control.

I think a letter of apology to the farmer and outlining the steps you will be taking to make sure it NEVER happens again would be a good idea.

I know you have good intentions but this is awful advice. NEVER admit fault.

@TwelvePaws

Glad the sheep is going to be ok.

The farmer sounds like a complete twat, threatening to shoot your dog. 😡 If he’s threatened to shoot my dog, I’d have reported him. He only cares about the sheep because they are money to him. Lots of farmers claim to care about the animals but they’re just cash and anyone who cares about animals doesn’t go around threatening to shoot a dog.

It sounds like a terrible experience for you OP so hope you’re doing ok now. You did everything possible. 💐

The farmer has every right to shoot your dog if it worries his sheep, so getting arsey and threatening to report him won’t do you any favours. It might well just be money to him, but that’s a moot point.

There are some awful posts on here.

@Cadent, why are you assuming she would go back? She's probably traumatised! (By what happened, and the horribly cold responses on here).

OP-you poor thing. It was a mistake, we all make them. (Apparently not Mumsnetters though ).

I think the farmer will calm down in this case though. You’ve been as responsible as you could be, and the lead snapped. I’d let him calm down overnight and see what tomorrow brings.

Public footpaths through sheep fields still mean you need your dog in close control, that in effect means it needs to follow the line of the path as you are. In order to do this it needs to be on a short lead not a long line. For the poster who said the farmer should put a notice up about sheep being present, just nonsense. It’s his bloody field. Unfortunately dog attacks are extremely common and farmers get (rightly) fed up, it can end up costing them a lot of money and can cause other ewes to abort.

[quote ParadiseIsland]@93sdb, what are you going to do about your dog recall? Or rather the lack of.

Today he didnt come back when he was after a sheep.
What if it happens again? What if next time, it’s a child, running on the road etc..?[/quote]
Because chasing a sheep is the same as attacking a child 🤔

It’s a dogs natural instinct to chase live stock, rabbits, rats, deer etc..., not natural instinct to attack a child.

@MarieIVanArkleStinks

FENTOOOOOOOON!

@Honeyroar no the farmer certainly does not have any right to shoot a dog. A farmer has a potential legal defence against the crime of shooting a dog (destruction of property) if the dog was worrying the sheep at the time. I say that as a member of a farming family.