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.

Yes the farmer is right to be fucked off but clearly it was an accident and the OP offered to pay the bills so she doesn't need third party liability insurance.

This is such an awful thing to happen for everyone involved.

For me...

• walking through a field of sheep with a dog is not something to ever be undertaken lightly. i.e. if you do so, have total control and total focus on your dog (not distractions), checking all the time they are secure. No relying on the lock of an extendable, you need to have hands on a lead (there are extendables thick enough that you can do this)

• regular checking of your leads and collars is important (before walks); looking for signs of wear and damage and having a backup you can use if you spot anything

Personally, at this time of year I avoid sheep fields like the plague unless the sheep are in a posotion way away from the route through, even though mine shows no interest in them. The sheep are at such a vulnerable point of their year (pregnant) that I don't want to stress them, even by walking nearby.

I'm not saying you didn't do those things, just calling it out as things others can think about to help reduce the risk of something like this.

I really hope both you and the sheep are fine. Well done for sticking around to try your best to make it right/help the sheep.

Oh, bless you

I wouldn't go anywhere near the farmer today. He is (rightly) very angry and although the sheep is currently still alive, it could still die from shock, or abort if it's pregnant. Damage to livestock isn't necessarily blood and a physical attack.

As an aside, if your dog can pull that strongly that it can snap a retractable lead, then it shouldn't be on one. Please use a non-extending lead in the future. A harness with two D-rings and two leads would also give you some extra security, or a double ended lead.

@gottakeeponmovin

Yes the farmer is right to be fucked off but clearly it was an accident and the OP offered to pay the bills so she doesn't need third party liability insurance.

Surely everyone with a dog needs 3rd party liability or to be absolutely sure they don't need it? It's cheap enough to get and the liability costs of having a dog can get crazy high if something bad happens. I'd come out in the cold sweats if I didn't have it.

You were being responsible. You had the dog on a lead. The lead snapped. If you have never seen sheep in there before I would wonder if he actually had permission to have them there.

@gottakeeponmovin

Yes the farmer is right to be fucked off but clearly it was an accident and the OP offered to pay the bills so she doesn't need third party liability insurance.

She should have it anyway, as should all dog owners.

@Fieldofyellowflowers

You were being responsible. You had the dog on a lead. The lead snapped. If you have never seen sheep in there before I would wonder if he actually had permission to have them there.

That is a really good point. It could be another reason for his reaction of threatening to get police involved and wanting compensation, along with threatening to shoot your dog.

Maybe he has them in there illegally and couldn't actually contact police for that reason. So using threats of police, and shooting your dog in order for you to cough up money without involving authorities.

Don't know. Just a thought.

What a dreadful thing to happen. I hope the sheep is okay and wasn't pregnant.

Is your lead the cord type of extendable lead? They"re unfortunately quite prone to snapping. I would only use a fixed lead around livestock because you need to be 100% certain they're not going to break.

Um. The farmer is an aggressive arse. Do not go over there with whiskey, or an apology, or anything else. Do not go over there.

It was a terrible accident, but it was just that. He well knew that you had

1. rescued the sheep
2. tried to warm the sheep and left your coat
3. called for help
4. left your contact details

Do not grovel to someone who is failing to act like the decent human being that you were.

Learn the lesson about a reliable lead. Deal with any police enquiries honestly and promptly. But do not pander to a man who is shouting and making wild threats. That's not acceptable.

Saw the sheep and put the clip on so he couldn't get any closer

And you didn't think to turn around and go back???? If I was the farmer I'd be bloody furious too.

Hi all thanks everyone for the kind responses I am absolutely devestated by what has happened and I've spoken to the farmer again. The sheep is up and okay. It wasn't pregnant as it was one of last years lambs thank god for that 🙏 apparently its taken some attachment to the coat I left so I've told him to keep it for the sheep--- least I can do!

The dogs (Joey) lead isn't a thin flimsy thing it was atleast 1.5 centermetres thick and he also had his harness on and it was clipped onto his back. It was just a horrible accident. For the person who said asif I showed the lead to the two people who were there and they were also shocked that it snapped considering the size of the thing. The farmer has been made aware of it. Would you also like to see it to prove I am telling the truth?

Will defo take on board what you said about extendable leads though. He's always had them and never had a problem but definitely don't want this to happen again! As I said before I would never have him anywhere within at least a mile of sheep. I plan my walks around it because I remember the first time it happened and it scared me silly. He is insured but I would probably have just paid out of my savings depending on cost but hopefully the sheep will be okay now and it won't come to that.

Thanks again everyone
I completely understand why the farmer was so angry but threatening to find my house to shoot my dog was a bit far considering.

I hope you are OK and the sheep recovers.

Once my uncle was walking his golden retriever in the countryside on the lead when he came across a man having a heart attack. He obviously stopped to help and stayed with him while another walker ran to get to phone to call an ambulance (in the days before mobile phones.) In the panic his dog ran off. When my uncle finally got to look for the dog it had chased and killed a sheep. My uncle walked the dog home and called the police to report the sheep. When the police went to investigate, the sheep had mysteriously disappeared, possibly into someone’s freezer. It was never followed up. Sometimes these things happen, sadly.

Trappedsince... I would have turned back.. but the lead broke...

Oh Lord, quite rightly you feel awful.

The poor farmer, poor sheep. Of course the farmer shouted.

To not have a reliable lead and walk through a field of sheep is unforgiveable, I just cross my fingers all the sheep are OK.

I realise you are sorry but it really isn't enough.

Why are you walking in a field not belonging to you? I'd be bloody furious if you did that on my land. No excuses at this time of the year, you can cost a farmer thousands just by shocking a flock. I love my dogs but never ever ever walk them on private land. You cannot apologise enough to that farmer, if you think you've had a shit day think about him, an animal he has raised and protected has been terrorised by your dog.

Those extending leafs are not strong enough. Get a proper strong lead and keep your dog on it. Offer the farmer compensation for the time he had to spend dealing with sheep.

Fuckitsstillraining - its a public footpath that is etched on many walks around here as being dog friendly.

OK we're going with 'it's the farmers fault'
'The sheep is attachd to my coat' bollocks.

This thread is upsetting.

@bitheby

What on earth??

'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.'

It's the farmers land. Do you really think that farmers should put up signs to farm their own land??? It doesn't need signage to 'warn unsuspecting dog owners' it's a field. Dog owners should presume there might be livestock.

And to the people suggesting it might be illegal to be keeping sheep there?
Honestly! How could it be illegal?

OP you clearly did the right thing by apologising & speaking to farmer.

Wow Billie...

Yes, indeed. awful.

Third party liability insurance for this sort of incident is not as clear cut as all that. Most will not pay out unless a court decides you are actually liable; you have to be proven negligent. If you're not proven liable, they won't pay out and then you have no legal case to answer so any recompense would be down to your conscience and your pocket.

This is all a bit of a tangle.

In this case where sheep have not been seen in that field for twenty years and the OP had no idea they were going to be there until the dog had already seen them; the dog was actually on a lead up until the point it broke so was (nominally) under control at that time. Was the lead in poor condition, or not strong enough for the dog? Could she have foreseen that the lead would break in an emergency?

Presumably with her dog's history, had the OP known there were sheep there, she wouldn't have entered the field. Is there an official or permissive right of way through the field which is in use? Or is it (or was it) a casual arrangement with the land-owner? In either case the farmer would be wise to put up signage to warn walkers of the sudden presence of livestock or to tell them henceforth to keep out, if it is private land.

Has the land changed hands? As the farmer said he'd had another incident that morning, does he think it was the same dog?

So many ifs and buts...

There is a dog law specialist, www.doglaw.co.uk/ , who might be able to help, or the OPs insurance company might have a legal helpline.

Im not sure anyone said it was the farmers fault. It was mine with the extendable lead which I've learned from this (thanks everyone)

To be completely honest I think the farmer was rude to you, especially if the sheep will make a full recovery. However it’s completely understandable that he was scared and shocked at what just happened (and what could have happened!) which manifested into rage.

I don’t really think you owe him compensation if the sheep will survive and is well. Maybe the vet call out fee, or the cost to repair any property your dog damaged? But legally you’re not obliged to randomly give him compensation because he asks for it, request an invoice.

If you do go to visit, take your dad with you in case the man is nasty again and tries to force you into handing over money he isn’t entitled to

[quote poshme]**@bitheby

What on earth??

'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.'

It's the farmers land. Do you really think that farmers should put up signs to farm their own land??? It doesn't need signage to 'warn unsuspecting dog owners' it's a field. Dog owners should presume there might be livestock.

And to the people suggesting it might be illegal to be keeping sheep there?
Honestly! How could it be illegal?

OP you clearly did the right thing by apologising & speaking to farmer. [/quote]
WTF??
Having seen the absolute carnage caused by escaping dog(s) the farmer has every right to be furious. Caring for sheep aborting their fully developed lambs because of the pig-ignorance of some people who think they are above the law makes me and many others sick.
@bitheby you clearly need to read The Countryside Code pdq. 😡