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.

I agree @derxa, never seen a sheep in the house either.

A newborn lamb, yes. Occasionally in the Agga too. But not. A sheep.

@EYProvider, thé issue isnt with the dog but the owner who is responsible for the dog.....

Oh wow it got wild on here!
Just to clarify the sheep is absolutely fine. My mum went to check on the field to see if it was there and it was. Farmer has also clarified this when I went to the house and apologised again and took him a little something for his troubles.

Thank you so so much to all who inboxed me and were so nice about it on here. I so wish it hadn't happened but the dog has got new everything thanks to the people on this thread. Lead coming tomorrow so will finally be able to take this crazy mutt on a walk (well away from sheep and being extreamely cautious before people jump on!)

Also, I honestly don't understand why anyone would lie on here.. what would anyone get out of lying to a group of strangers. Chances are we are never going to meet each other so why would I bother? I don't condone the farmer threatening to come to my house to shoot the dog at all and if it had gone any further things would have been different but I guess we can all say some things when we are upset or angry.

There are a few people within this forum who obviously feel they know everything about everything and never make mistakes which is fine -- don't forget to shine your halos!

Thanks again to everyone who asked if I was okay and sent well wishes to the sheep and understood it was just an awful accident. You are very kind xxx

One of the basic problems is that dogs become quite addicted to sheep worrying, especially of there is any blood involved - once they have done this they tend to do it again and again. It is a big problem in farming areas.

It is very clear on here those who have some understanding of the rural way of life and those who do not. Rural life is not just about pretty views and scenic walks - it is about feeding the country; and we need to support local farming in order to reduce imports. Those whose food is all on supermarket shelves and wrapped in plastic will find it hard to understand the realities of food production - I can see that.

But farmers really do care about the well-being of their stock, and not just for financial reasons. Farming communities all round the world share a respect for their animals and strive to make their lives as good as possible, even though they might end as being meat.

The chain of events was started by a dog with the sentience of a 2 year old child, Errol. It was an accident.

In this case, yes, the dog acting on its instincts, and a lead that broke.
Usually, the chain of events is started by a human who is to ignorant or arrogant to keep their dog under control. It happens all too often.

I realise the discussion has moved on a little now and I'm not sure if you are still reading OP but if you are you have my sympathies and I hope you are ok.

This thread epitomises the type of bizarre, sanctimonious and uncomprehending pile up that has made mumsnet so unpleasant lately. The OP had her dog, that recalls in almost all situations, on a lead on a public footpath that has never had sheep on before. It turns out that extendable leads aren't brilliant (I'm another who has never heard this in real life after owning a dog for years, but I'm grateful to have learnt it although we don't use one) but OP had a sturdy harness and everything you'd expect in terms of decent equipment.

So what on earth else was she supposed to do? She has to walk the dog, I suppose the only other option is to rehome the dog to the moon where there is no remote possibility of it ever encountering a sheep again but you aren't allowed to rehome dogs on mumsnet anyway.

I understand the farmer being angry (I grew up on a farm with sheep) but don't condone his threats. That doesn't mean that OP was in the wrong at all, it was simply very unfortunate.

As is often the case on these threads OP has been very open, reasonable and reflective but still been given a beating by posters who I'm absolutely sure aren't even half as responsible themselves. It seems that some on mumsnet expect people to have superhuman powers.

I posted a dog thread once looking for advice and as I was very fragile at the time (a week after giving birth, in lockdown, and having experienced a very upsetting incident) the replies really, really upset me even though I also felt I'd done everything I reasonably could and was looking for the most responsible options. I explained my circumstances in the thread and still had some horrible replies, some of which breached mumsnet rules etc. I wouldn't mind if I had deserved it but I really don't think I did.

Likewise the poor OP here

Also - legal responsibility does not necessarily correlate with being morally wrong. The OP may well have legal responsibility but that doesn't mean she did anything she could have reasonably morally avoided under the circumstances

Dog should be shot and farmer would have been in his rights to do so. It is lambing season and so much devastation is caused by dogs at this time of year. No farmer needs to put signage up to tell people there are sheep in the field, it is their land and they are within their rights to use it however the fuck they want. Jesus...

Also just want to add. In human terms my dog did a bad thing (that I obviously take responsibility for) but he is a predator..

He is also an amazing loyal companion. He is amazing with my son and is his best friend. He has never ever been aggressive to anyone or anything aside from this and is so placid he is like a little old man. He will sit with you when you cry and want to please you constantly.

The farmer could of shot him and i couldn't of said anything as he did chase the sheep. But I am also blessed he didn't as he is an important part of our family and is deeply loved.

@Quangoquandry

Dog should be shot and farmer would have been in his rights to do so. It is lambing season and so much devastation is caused by dogs at this time of year. No farmer needs to put signage up to tell people there are sheep in the field, it is their land and they are within their rights to use it however the fuck they want. Jesus...

A farmer who cared about their sheep would anyway though, if they knew that people walk their dogs through that field.

The farmer would not have been within his rights to shoot the dog:
'Contrary to popular belief, a farmer does not have a legal right to shoot a dog that is worrying their livestock' from www.crombiewilkinson.co.uk/site/blog/news/sheep-worrying-and-your-rights There is no argument for shooting the dog now, after the event. Not a good argument, anyway.

Your argument about signage is a bit like saying no parent should have to bring their 5 year old after dark. It's true, but it's not realistic. We live in a world with risks. The field has a public right of way, so it would be sensible to assume that the public will behave like the public, with the standard degree of observance of the rules, mixed with their experience of the environment. Of course he has the right to do whatever he wants on his own land, but if he puts sheep where he knows there are often dogs, he either doesn't care about the sheep, or he's an idiot. Or both.

And this is why extendable leads should be banned. They are dangerous pieces of crap that are dangerous for the dog and for others.

Stop using them

It is lambing season and so much devastation is caused by dogs at this time of year. No farmer needs to put signage up to tell people there are sheep in the field, it is their land and they are within their rights to use it however the fuck they want.

What a ridiculous goady post.

You have taken full responsibility which to me says a lot about a person. I actually think you aren't 100% to blame as a sheep had already fell into the pond, it's a risk and should be fenced off to protect the sheep falling in. You can't change what happened. You had no intent to harm and took care of the sheep and got help. These things happen don't beat yourself up. I'm interested in what sort of lead it was that snapped. Maybe highlight this to warn others.

@Mischance - If rural life is populated by thuggish cowboys like this farmer, you can keep it.

And let’s not pretend that farmers have such lofty values either - we all know they’ve been paid subsidies for years not to produce food.

Also my dog is 45kg so god knows how it happened!

Fully grown sheep? Honestly? Did they wear nappies?

Honestly ! Yes fully grown sheep. No nappies, no. 🤣 Ive also known people to have pigs in with injured feet as well as newborn lambs.

Glad the sheep is doing well OP. And your dog. I still think the farmer shouldn’t have access to a gun with a temper like that and I wouldn’t be going anywhere near him. Good to hear that you’ve ordered a new lead too. Hopefully that puts an end to it all and has also made some people more aware of issues such as this.

@onionsndsage - sheep rarely fall into water unless they are spooked by something. They don't just tip over into water or down steep hills, etc.
A pasture with open access to water is ideal for sheep in lambing season.

@Eckhart, in the OP's own words, dogs are predators.
This implies that they should always be under the total and complete control of their owners when away from their own homes.

It's not a case of 'farmer beware/ dogs will be dogs'.
It's a case of 'always have your predator completely under your control'.

[quote mathanxiety]@onionsndsage - sheep rarely fall into water unless they are spooked by something. They don't just tip over into water or down steep hills, etc.
A pasture with open access to water is ideal for sheep in lambing season.

@Eckhart, in the OP's own words, dogs are predators.
This implies that they should always be under the total and complete control of their owners when away from their own homes.

It's not a case of 'farmer beware/ dogs will be dogs'.
It's a case of 'always have your predator completely under your control'.[/quote]
Exactly

@93sdb is that identifiable information on the screenshot? Photo and postcode?

I've reported just in case

No farmer needs to put signage up to tell people there are sheep in the field, it is their land and they are within their rights to use it however the fuck they want. Jesus..

Actually it's recommended - by the NFU and the Kennel Club - that farmers do exactly that, if they have rights of way on their land. They can even get free signs from the NFU in order to do so.

The last line on that reads 'Follow the countryside code', which dog owners and walkers in general should be aware of before they set off onto farmed land.

'The Countryside Code':
www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/countryside-code-full-online-version

Note - keep dogs under effective control

Baffled by the notion that a farmer should put up signs saying there are sheep in a field. What do people think grassland is for? Of course, they're not grazed all the time, especially in winter when some of the cows are in, but even if there's no livestock, there may be wild animals most people wouldn't want their dogs chasing. Or ground nesting birds - not quite yet, but lapwings may be nesting in rough grazing land from March onwards.

Why do I smirk thinking about the sheep in a pond. Poor thing