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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

My dog has just done the worst thing

711 replies

93sdb · 09/02/2021 15:53

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.

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 09/02/2021 17:51

Sorry, just seen your update that the sheep is Ok.

lljkk · 09/02/2021 17:51

Let us know what happens, OP.
Bit of an awful shock but accidents happen.

Topseyt · 09/02/2021 17:54

There seem to be many people on here who are lacking in reading and comprehension skills.

stablefeet · 09/02/2021 17:55

It's a public footpath through a field. Your dog was on the lead but it broke. You've given the farmer your details and indicated that you'll pay any costs (so whether or not you have public liability insurance for your dog is irrelevant, it's not like you're going to get sued for millions). You didn't do anything wrong Op, and I say this as a country person. Sometimes accidents just happen. Ignore the people laying in to you here, it's the dark side of Mumsnet.

ZackaryQuack · 09/02/2021 17:55

@PracticingPerson

It was a complete and utter accident, different if she walked in knowing there was sheep there or walked him through a field with no lead. Accidents happen.

Accidents happen, but there is still usually responsibility, as with car accidents.

OP is taking full responsibility for the accident, she got the sheep out, kept it warm, left her details and offered to pay any vet bills, that is a lot more than many other dog owners.
Lweji · 09/02/2021 17:55

@Blubell281

Dear God there's some idiots on this thread. Why can't people just read the OP?!! To clarify:

-the lead snapped
-she was walking along a public footpath
-farmers cannot go to peoples homes and shoot dogs that have worried or attacked their sheep.

Good summary.
Bilgepumper · 09/02/2021 17:56

Flowers you poor thing.

PracticingPerson · 09/02/2021 17:56

@ZackaryQuack I was responding to that poster, not the op.

VinylDetective · 09/02/2021 17:57

Oh sweetheart, how horrible for you. Of all the times for the lead to snap. I hope you and the sheep are both all right.

starsparkle08 · 09/02/2021 18:00

I would be furious with you too , that poor sheep .

I think the extendable lead needs to go and use a short lead instead .
Surely you would have known the lead had some weakness in it

No sympathy for you here

littlepattilou · 09/02/2021 18:01

@Asdf12345

In the uk the owner is liable for damage caused by dogs, though interestingly not cats.

Damn right, seeing as damage and harm done by dogs, is a thousand times more than damage and harm done by cats! Hmm

@93sdb I am sorry this happened and that it's shaken you up, but as many posters have said, this is up to you to deal with. The lead may have snapped, but that's totally academic. Your dog is your responsibility. The farmer is angry and pissed off because you are probably the 20th dog owner he has had an issue with in the past 6 months!

I am 100% on the farmer's side here, and sadly, this thread is yet MORE evidence that some dog owners simply do not have full control of their dogs.

ivfbabymomma1 · 09/02/2021 18:03

@Bisquiteen I kinda agree.... if a dog tried to attack my god I wouldn't hesitate to kick it to death if I had to! & I'm a dog lover! I don't know who wouldn't try and stop an animal attaching their own pet if it happened.

That being said threatening to come round and shoot the dog after the event happened and the sheep was ok is a bit much!

I hope your okay Op! A nasty shock but you did what you could!

SeasonFinale · 09/02/2021 18:06

The reason I was still asking about insurance is that if the sheep does actually suffer delayed shock it can be a very expensive situation for the OP, despite her offering to pay it would be best for her to check whether either her household or her pets insurance would cover her.

Original poster
93sdb · 09/02/2021 18:06

Season finale - hes keeping the sheep in kitchen and garden for now just to keep an eye on it. I've asked to keep me updated if/when he can and will update on here too for who wants to know.

OP posts:
BeautifulStar · 09/02/2021 18:07

I have sympathy for you Op - accidents happen however I do hate those extendable leads. I get so tired of people walking their dogs with them and not bothering to pull them to one side as people are passing but instead letting them stretch right across the path. I’m often forced into the mud at the side - it’s such entitled behaviour.

Dog owners: use proper leads or at the very least keep it on a short length when you are near other people.

Hoppinggreen · 09/02/2021 18:07

Sounds awful for you OP and I think you did what you could
Sounds like farmer was (understandably) angry, I doubt he had any intention of coming to your house to shoot your dog. I don’t think you should visit the farmer on your own just in case he’s still angry, it’s basic safety advice and I would say the same whatever your sex or age.

littlepattilou · 09/02/2021 18:08

@Blubell281 .... the dog was on the loose.

... the sheep was in a farmer's field

And you call other posters IDIOTS?

LOL, pot kettle black!

covilha · 09/02/2021 18:08

As far as I understand, the farmer can only shoot your dog if The livestock is at immediate risk. Clearly this is not the case. Your dog is at home with you and nowhere near any sheep. I think that you have taken responsibility for what has happened and I commend you for this. However, I think you would be wise to keep your dog on the lead in future until you are absolutely certain there are no sheep in the area. Unfortunately, my experience has been once a sheep chaser always a sheepchaser. Sorry for all of you but please don’t be too hard on yourself. And please make sure your dog is protected from the farmer and his gun. As far as I am aware he now has no right to shoot your dog.

Lovemusic33 · 09/02/2021 18:10

OP, this happened to me just over a year ago, I had my dog on a extendable lead, he was a rescue and up until then showed no interest in sheep, if anything he was scared of them. We walked alongside a field of sheep and suddenly he leaped through the electric fencing dragging me towards it, I got a shock and dropped the lead and he was gone, rounding up the sheep and barking at them, luckily he didn’t go for them, he just chased them around but obviously the sheep were very stressed, eventually he gave up and came back to me (whilst I was shouting at him). It really upset me even though he didn’t physically harm the sheep.

OP, it wasn’t your fault but don’t ever trust an extendable lead again, they are awful things and can cause injury to dogs (mine caused a burn to my dog).

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 09/02/2021 18:12

Oh Op. I feel for you. And let's be honest, the farmer doesn't care about his sheep. He simply cares about money like they all do. The lead snapped. He can't threaten to shoot a dog that's not even present.

Mumtoone39 · 09/02/2021 18:13

What a shit day all round. Hope you are ok Ok and the sheep makes out.
I have nothing to add to the above but wanted to add something regarding extendable leads. Please if you can don't use them - I have seen 3 road traffic accidents directly related to these leads snapping in recent years. In 2 of these cases the dogs sadly died. I saw the leads in 2 of the cases and visually there was no obvious excess wear. They were also appropriately sized for the dogs in question. Just want to make everyone aware of this( I am sure many of you are but it does no harm to say it again). You can imagine how devastated the owners were.

tillyandmilly · 09/02/2021 18:14

The poor woman apologised - the farmers don’t really care about their flock in sentimental terms they are money to them - they are slaughtered for their meat etc ...... ending up on people’s plates! By the way I am vegan.

Bisquiteen · 09/02/2021 18:15

For the record - I breed rare breed sheep for their wool so none of them go to have their throats slit. What a nasty thing to say. I will say it again - I love my sheep. You sound like a very cruel person though so if it pleases you to think about animals dying, crack on.

I just want to educate people (whether they claim to have 'worked on farms' or not) to keep their dogs, no matter what breed or size, under close control at all times. I don't know what type of footpath was being walked on this occasion but some are permissive paths and no-one, no-one at all, has the right to allow their animal to worry livestock. There was even a beautiful Highland cow, who was in calf, attacked and killed by a dog a few weeks ago. For goodness sake people, use common sense.

If you are in the countryside there MAY be animals in the fields. It's really not hard to understand is it?

alltheadrenalin · 09/02/2021 18:16

That sounds so upsetting

littlepattilou · 09/02/2021 18:16

@stablefeet

It's a public footpath through a field. Your dog was on the lead but it broke. You've given the farmer your details and indicated that you'll pay any costs (so whether or not you have public liability insurance for your dog is irrelevant, it's not like you're going to get sued for millions). You didn't do anything wrong Op, and I say this as a country person. Sometimes accidents just happen. Ignore the people laying in to you here, it's the dark side of Mumsnet.
It may be a public footpath through a field, but dogs are ALWAYS MEANT TO BE ON A LEAD in areas like this.

I know this as I live in a rural area surrounded by farms, and regularly take walks in fields and areas like the OP did.

I see many people with dogs, and most of them have the common sense to keep them on a lead. Occasionally you will find someone letting their dog off its lead, because they think the rules don't apply to them, (or their little doggie is special... Hmm )

Then something like this happens, and it's all 'woe is me!' and 'I am so upset this happened!' Keep your bloody dog on its lead in a public place then. ALWAYS!

Unfortunately the OP is totally at fault here 'faulty lead' or not.

I am sorry she is upset and shaken, but the fact is that she IS at fault, and people need to stop acting like she is some kind of fragile flower, with all this 'oh what a shame for you OP' attitude.

Lesson learned @93sdb Keep your dog on its lead from now on!

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