Police say farmers can legally shoot your dog
The BBC and Bromsgrove Standard have been reporting that West Mercia Police have assured a Worecestershire farmer that he is legally entitled to shoot dead dogs on his land.
Following several attacks on a Clent farmer’s sheep – which he blames on a dog – PC Jason Hynes said:
?€œI have spoken to the farmer this morning and advised that he has the right to protect his livestock by shooting any dog caught worrying them.
?€œIt is the responsibility of the dog?€™s owner to ensure their pet does not have such an opportunity and it is important that everyone with a dog understands the risks.?€? PC Jason Hynes, West Mercia Police.
Update 13.02.06: Dog killing farmer gets community sentence.
April 13th, 2008 at 3.29 pm
what about dogs walking by owners side in open moorland, minding it’s own business, nowhere near sheep, but farmer threatening to shoot?
November 12th, 2008 at 12.56 am
Well i would hate to be the farmer, i certainly would make sure that farmer would never be a farmer again. I would make sure the farmer had no problem with his livestock because they would become deadstock. I would personally carve up and feed the prick every single one of them slice by slice, then i cram the remains of the deadstock up every Police Cuntstable that had made such a stupid comment. If dog shooting is allowed then obviously the reverse is also, livestock worrying dogs should also be shot that is the responsibilty of the farmer.
August 20th, 2009 at 12.36 pm
To Sue Pike.
as my name suggests i am a farmer of cows for beef. if i see a dog walker and they are both behaving approriatly and respecting boundrys and livestock i am more then happy for them to be enjoying the countryside!
and to “the piss take” you are a fool and obviously know nothing of rural affairs. so you think its acceptable to let your dog chase some ones livestock in many cases causing them to die? if thats the case then why dont u start letting your dog in to the butchers to eat all the meat with out paying? your doing the same thing. if some ones dog trouble my cows i WILL kill it if there is no other means to solve the problem and you just try killing the livestock im sure most farmers will be more then happy to deal with you.
“obviusly the reverse is also allowed” hmmm thats a good idea! i see no reason why you cant just go in to some elses land and kill there animals! your very clever good little boy! now run along play nicely!
much love!
keep supporting your british farmers!
November 18th, 2009 at 11.22 pm
[...] backyard breeder Well it doesn’t answer the question about the clean kill but I found this… Police say farmers can legally shoot your dog – Dogs Rule Got to say I agree somewhat with “The Piss Take”‘s [...]
January 23rd, 2010 at 9.04 pm
A so called farmer has just shot both my Neapolitan Mastiff’s. Under the cloak of sheep worrying. This time he has really come unstuck with his usual excuses. Both dog’s were trained cattle dog’s and worked our Dairy Cattle. Both got lost during a snow storm and this old bastard farmer got tipped off I had lost them. He went out to hunt, and shoot both dog’s. Then him and another prick farmer hid the dog’s bodies. The police are saying it is a Civil Matter. I am saying it is a criminal matter. The farmer in question is over 70 years old, dodgy eye sight and hard of hearing, YET packing gun’s. He threatened us with shooting us when we went round after we found out what the evil old bastard has done. YET the police still allow him to have gun’s.
February 10th, 2010 at 10.18 pm
Yesterday my beautiful husky dog got shot by a farmer. She was only a puppy.
A farmer had left the gate open to his sheep farm and she got in and hurt two sheep. The farmer went right in and shot her dead. What I fail to understand is why he didn’t try every other possible way of sorting out the problem. She was a kind dog and it is obvious when you see her that this is the case. Even if the farmer does legally have the right, how can he kill such a beautiful creature knowing that it has a family? It is a matter of morals. I would happily pay even thousands of pounds just to have my dog back. I would pay for the sheep that are not even dead. I think this right is abused. Sheep are a farmers way of living but not much more and will be killed anyway sooner or later. If they are going to get compensation then why kill the dog?
It is cruel.
February 19th, 2010 at 8.11 pm
Sara, I am sorry for the loss of your dog but…. you endeavor to blame the farmer for your dog worrying his sheep. May I ask why you as a responsible dog owner allowed your pet dog lose to be in a position to gain entry to his sheep. Your dog is YOUR responsibilty, you should have kept it on a leash.
February 21st, 2010 at 11.50 pm
SARA:
Have I got the facts straight?
You unleashed a carnivorous animal that invaded another persons land and then attacked 2 of his animals?
You’re right, it is a matter of morals, you have a moral duty to control your hound (Huskies are noted for their excessive hunting reflex when loose. Husky = Spitz = Wolf!)
Good job the farmers kids weren’t out as well, or perhaps a few thousand would solve that problem too?
February 28th, 2010 at 12.53 pm
I live in North Wales and although we only have eight acres we do work the land,which has been in my family for over sixty years. We have two public paths across the land which we keep clear and well maintained and we are happy for people to use these paths,but why do dog owners seem to think that gives them the right to allow their dogs to run loose away from the path? Generally in the past we didn’t have too much trouble with loose dogs and I have never felt the need to shoot a dog but in the last few years the attitude of a lot of dog owners seems to have got worse with regard to keeping their pets on a lead or under close control. I am a dog owner myself and would not want to shoot a dog,but if I see a dog attacking any of my animals I will shoot it. There is a very easy way of stopping this from happening,when walking your dog on someone else’s land keep it on a lead,even if you think there is no livestock about. Farmers have every right to graze their land even if a public path crosses it.
March 6th, 2010 at 5.16 pm
FAO.Sara, we are taking the evil old bastard who shot our Neapolitan Mastiffs to Court under Civil Law. The Law states that your dog is your property, Criminal Justice Act 1971, the destruction of property. As expected from West Yorkshire Police they are refusing to do anything. I have proff that he shot the dog’s he admitted to shooting them, yet the police are taking his word the dog’s were out worrying. Well we will bloody well see when I get him in a Civil Court. Do not give up press charges for criminal damages.
Robyn Heap Dairy Farmer and Cheese Maker
March 23rd, 2010 at 10.03 pm
I was out walking my labradors one day when they managed to get through a fence and chased some cattle, nothing major just barking and running off like, from no were I heard two gun shots and a farmer had shot them dead! well I was furious and grabed his riffle and beat him until blood was pouring out of his eyes! I never let it go & still to this day dont. the farmer mysteriously died a few weeks later, he had fallen down his stairs and died in a puddle of his own piss. If I here of any farmer killing dogs without trying to rectify the problem I will come for them, I am not affraid of death and I
June 1st, 2010 at 6.21 pm
we’ll just to put things straight, if anyone were to shoot or harm my dog, the same punishment would be put back on them.
farmer shoots my dog, i cut his throat and put him down….
Its simple….. so shoot away
July 1st, 2010 at 4.55 pm
Update on the killings of my two Neapolitan Mastiff’s. After the Police failing me again I appealed to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. They have upheld my appeal and are forcing West Yorkshire Police to investigate properly. Also a very important witness has come forward to give evidence. The said Farmer I say that light hearted. Was seen this week getting out of his Land Rover with a disabled badge on it with a shot gun next to a main road. A very responsible person indeed.
July 22nd, 2010 at 6.34 pm
i am looking to move to a house near a farm and i have a border collie but i am worried if he gets near the sheep the farmer will shoot him…is this aloud??would really like to hear everyone’s thoughts
September 4th, 2010 at 8.46 am
Just met a man who was drunk and unsteady on his feet: looked as if heading for the margins of society. Did not recognise him until he said that a farmer had very recently shot his dog. This man, who was always (whenever previously I met him), sober and sensible and a very responsible dog owner, was reduced to ashes by the loss of his beloved companion.
There was no question, I was told, of any livestock being involved. Yet the farmer shot a dog, who was just toddling about doing his morning pees and poohs whilst his owners packed up in the caravan they had been staying in to enjoy the Big Cheese Festival at Caerphilly.
Anyone who is allowed a gun should be extremely responsible in using it. I am so sorry that a brilliantly responsible and loving dog owner has suffered in this way, and only hope he is able to recover eventually from this horrendous event. And no, the Police were of no help but, instead, sided with the farmer because the dog’s owner had, very understandably, threatened the murdering maniac!
October 18th, 2010 at 10.00 pm
well said “the piss take” i wholeheartedly support you, and as for you farmer i will never support the british farmer of livestock so run along little farmer go do what most hard done by farmers do and hang yourself
October 24th, 2010 at 12.20 pm
I am now at my final Appeal stage with the IPCC and I hope and pray that the IPCC see through the open lies the Police are saying. We believe that the Evil Entity who shot my Neapolitan Mastiff’s is a Police Informant as they are going out of their way to protect him and openly lying on Official Documentation.
October 31st, 2010 at 12.36 pm
I am so angry that every single footpath off my village is filled with livestock. Its so hard to let your dog run anywhere incase the are mistaken for threatening livestock.
my dog actually ran in to the farmers garden today and scared a chicken. His garden gate was open and my dog went in. Yeah probably my fault, but shouldnt chickens be kept behind a closed gate, the same as my dog probably should have been on a lead?
I dont know.
but I live in a tiny village where everyone lets their dogs wander around the village without a lead and being threatened by a farmer is the most horrible and intimadating thing. ” I will shoot your dog, that is not a threat that is a promise” were his exact words shouted in my face (im a tiny 22 year old female.).
You have to walk your dog, and it has to be allowed to run. I dont think threatening behaviour is acceptable. i think both parties need to meet each other half way.. simple.
November 1st, 2010 at 4.06 pm
Robyn,
I just wanted to say that reading what you and Sara have written has had me in tears. It is clear to me that this “sheep worrying” premise is being totally abused by some people and I can’t believe it’s possible to get away with shooting dogs like this.
Yesterday, I had a farmer leap out of hedges at me in the semi darkness with his gun, threatening to shoot my dog. My dog had momentarily run off the footpath on and onto his field, I think because she saw or smelt him in the bushes and went to investigate. There were no livestock in the field, although the field had just been planted, I called her back immediately. When the farmer jumped out and started shouting at me fit to bust his lungs, repeating over and over that he would shoot the dog, my dog started barking at him, something she has never done before at a person, normally she is quite timid. I think she was trying to ward him off me. He then started accusing me of having a dangerous dog and said if I let her off lead again, he would shoot her in self defence. My dog is a total softie and the accusation is ridiculous.
I called the police today to report the incident, and they confirmed that he was in the wrong, and that my dog running over his field for a few metres (which I know she shouldn’t do) was not a reason to threaten to shoot her. They haven’t taken action, but the incident was “logged” in case he does anything similar to anyone else. As for me I will be walking her somewhere else from now on. I love my dog and I’m not taking risks where lunatics are apparently allowed to wield guns.
This made me question whether farmers have the right to shoot dogs, and I can barely believe the stories like yours that I have found. They are totally heartbreaking. I sincerely wish you luck with your case and hope that justice prevails. Please keep us updated here.
November 15th, 2010 at 4.51 pm
Hi, Christina, you must have had a real frightening experience. You MUST press the Police to arrest this Entity. The Police in my experience love to avoid doing their job. This guy who threatened to shoot your dog will go on and on waving his gun around and killing for the hell of it because he knows the Police will not touch him as they always side with these scum bag farmers. We are Farmers but managed to make our farm and our Dairy Herd pay by making cheese. Most Farmers rely on hand outs from the Single Farm payment Scheme. You always know when they have had their payments. You usually see them riding around in a new 4×4 whist their animals get neglected. This piece of scum who shot my dog’s still has his gun’s and boasts that ‘he has been told by the Police that =they will NEVER take them off him’ I read in our local paper that the Inspector in charge in our area has been quoted as saying ‘we treat all gun crime with great importance (after a young lad was seen playing with a water pistol’ He is only saying that now because the IPCC is on his case. DO NOT TRUST THE POLICE. Go straight to the IPCC and inform them that yet again a Policeman is not doing the job the tax payer pays him to do. I will keep everyone updated on the outcome of my final appeal with the IPCC.
December 6th, 2010 at 11.07 am
I have very recently moved to a rural location. I have 2 dogs which are usually very good and well supervised. I am a very resposible owner but dog are dogs.This morning my younger dog decided to run off and went on the farmers land< hes never done this before and wont again. I fully accept my resposibilites as a dog owner, and as an animal lover i fully understand how loosing sheep could affect a farmers paycheque. I would have said my apologies etc, however Farmer Joe spoke to me(im a very small and approachable lady)like he was going to attack me with a pitch fork and feed me to his livestock. I have never been spoken to with such arrogance and hate. I am ashamed to say i may have let loose a few obsceneties something i never ever do but i was just really threatened by his attidtude. we are his new neighbours and i think may have upset him already now but oh well he needs to treat people with respect.He apparantly has a bad reputation and has cornered off every last millimeter of his land in case someone steps a toe on it.Yes that bitter,miserable speciman of human being.If he upsets me i will fight him with my bare fists as small as i am….grrrr.Fortunately i do believe in what goes around comes around, and he really needs to treat people like he would want to be treated farmer or not.
December 29th, 2010 at 1.19 am
My Husky dog was shot today just wanted to say to those out there who mentioned farmers kids they know who they are .I have three grandchildren ,my dog loved these children. Just rememember sheep have know personality I would not want to see any animal suffer could the farmer have not send me the bill instead . Big men with big guns who do they think they are ,that was our family pet not some sheep waiting to be slaughtered. Its all money with them and all they do is moan about the weather. Every heard the saying think before you drink. Think before you shoot. We loved our Husky.
January 11th, 2011 at 1.16 pm
i need advice my dog got out and got shot because a stuped person who i didnt know opened my door,a lovely labrador only one year old i reported it right away but police say they cant do anything. i live in scotland.
January 11th, 2011 at 3.22 pm
I think half of you here are living in cloud cuckoo land. I organise hikes and the attitude of dog owners is now so disgraceful we’ve stopped allowing them on walks. Dogs were frequently off the lead and in some cases chased animals, scaring them half to death. The attitude when you asked owners to make sure their animals were secured on a lead (as they are supposed to be as set out in the country side code) was often so overblown I just couldn’t believe it. Never mind telling them to scoop the dog’s poops which can carry parasites and diseases for both humans and animals!
I’m not a farmer but I can see their point. If you are a dog owner, be aware how dangerous your animal can be to both animals and the livelihood of farmers. No doubt farmers do overreact on occasion but I dare say I would, had animals of mine been savaged in the past by other people’s domesticated wolves. If you give a farmer the opportunity to shoot your dog, only you are to blame.
January 11th, 2011 at 3.28 pm
FYI The countryside code regarding dogs: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/countrysidecode/keepdogs.aspx
If it’s “just not possible” or “just not fair” or “but my dog loves to run around sheep fields” then tough. Them’s the rules.
January 21st, 2011 at 11.34 am
I am apalled and disgusted by the number of dog owners on this thread whom seem to be of the opinion that their dogs have the right to wander at will over peoples property worrying, chasing, injuring and potentially killing others animals at will.
I can only hope you experience the devastation it is to have someone elses out of control animal come onto your own property and rip a pet/animal of your own to pieces. If you truly cared about or loved dogs you should be encouraging irresponsible owners to keep their animals off of other peoples property, under control and placed on a lead where you are legally obliged to do so.
As sheep owners we have wrangled with this issue for several years now the ignorant and thoughtless responses on this thread have helped cement the decision to finally reach for the gun after years of making a effort to find other ways to convince dog owners to take responsbility for their own animals to protect both our stock AS WELL AS their pet.
The law is clear any dog at large in a field of livestock may legally be shot. If you all truly want to protect your dog keep it on a lead around farm animals. Illegal threats of violence wont bring the dog back and only land you in jail.
I am a log lover myself and wish there was another way but at the end of the day my own animals welfare is my priority and if dog owners are not willing to face up to their legal AND moral responsibilities then what other option do we have?
Unless the dog is shot the owners just deny it was their dog and that is if you can find out where they are from. Ignorance is rife with many dog owners refusing to acknowledge the law and giving the rest of us a bad name….. it is not the farmers responsibility to fence your dogs out it is your responsibility to keep them under control!!!
We have had countless sheep killed by dogs, I have seen dogs get cattle running go through a solid wooden fence and cause a fatal RTA for which the farmer was held responsible and did not recouperate the money his insurance company had to pay out as when they counter sued the dog owner (which was ultiately culpable) he was not adequately insured. Many of the fatal accidents to people by cattle are due to a dog getting them running or previous harassment. We have tried to get hold of the dogs on occassion and ended up being badly bitten.
Just chasing sheep around a bit may seem harmless to the dog owner but can cause huge losses due to stress or abortions. Just two days ago I had a dog get in (whos owner we have requested several times to keep off of our private property) and chase last years lambs about culminating in 4 dead lambs later that morning as their system starts to shut down under such stress and they go downhill extremely quickly in the cold……. plus another handful we have (hopefully) nursed through.
If you shoot you have to shoot to kill…….. to warn the dog off is considered threatenng behaviour and to injure is considered causing unnecessary suffering.
Regardless of the fact only my Collie showsany interest at all in stock all of my dogs go on leads in and amongst other peoples livestock, that is the law and it is my duty as a dog owner to respect it.
For the original poster what evidence do you have that your dogs were not on his land? As a dairy farmer you must appreciate that if they were then you are at fault.
By your own admission they were not contained and by your own admission had been encouraged to herd (and to many this equates to chase) livestock. My working collie shows MORE interest in sheep than my GSP’s which have been trained to leave well alone not less!!! It is widely acknowledged it is the hunting instinct/prey drive you rely so much on to produce a good working dog. I also want to point out that just because a dog is OK and respects Cattle it does not equate to being trustable around sheep particularly if predatory instinct has been fostered.
Would love to see footage of your previous dogs herding, it is hard to imagine neopolitan herding, not exactly your typical ‘pastoral dogs’……. can’t imagine any of the ones I have known working.
I know historically they were used as such but the again they were also used for bull baiting!
January 24th, 2011 at 12.41 pm
I have just read through the list of comments on this page and I must say I am totally confused with some of the comments (ignored some of the non-relevant threatning ones). I own and breed German Pointers and have done for the past 30 years, however I am shocked that some dog owners allow their dogs to run freely and at times out of control on land where cattle graze. If you can’t control or secure your dogs adequately then I suggest you need to take a step back and think who is actually to blame in these situations. I agree looking at some of the messages that certain instances could have been either avoided or handled differently, however why put yourself in this situation. It is simple…..do not let your dog of a leash near livestock, secure your property so your dog(s) can’t escape & understand where you walk your dog(s)…..it is that simple. A farmer will and is in his rights to shoot a dog if he feels that it is causing his cattle any sort of grief. Do not put yourself in that situation and stop blaming the farmer who is covered by a very woolly law.
January 26th, 2011 at 12.24 am
The law is law for a reason. In this case the law justly protects farmers. It is amazing how self centered and ignorant how some of the dog owner comments are coming across.
Any time a pet is shot is tragic. It is even more tragic that this situation is preventable by pet owners being responsible. If you love your pets so much, be a responsible owner.
To claim how you would murder another human being for protecting their property from your mistake is quite harsh and evil.
February 5th, 2011 at 7.34 pm
Just something to try,
1. KEEP YOUR DOG OFF PRIVATE PROPERTY!
2. If you dont understand the countryside, take your dog to a park.
3. Don’t say that someone who is protecting there livelyhood is in the
wrong
4. Don’t make ignorant comments like “Most Farmers rely on hand outs
from the Single Farm payment Scheme” and “You usually see them
riding around in a new 4×4 whist their animals get neglected” when you
have no idea what you’re talking about or any proof.
5. Don’t complain about the police when they dont do anything, because
you are in the wrong and no crime has been committed.
I love dogs and I’m also a farmer. NONE of my animals are neglected, my guns are only used properly and I do not take handouts. If you are stupid enough to let your dogs loose on my land, I’d rather not shoot the dog because it is you that is stupid, the dog is only doing what comes naturally. However other people do not share my veiw, but that is their prerogative and there legal right. If you dont like the law, talk to your MP.
February 15th, 2011 at 8.09 pm
Sorry to hear about everyones loss on this forum, it is truly saddening that farmers have this sort of attitude towards other peoples pets.
I also had an experience at the weekend where a farmer let his sheep onto a public walkway, yet he has a few acres of land that is surrounded by 4-5 ft high walls and fences with gaps that not even a rat could squeeze through.
My boxer was walking off the lead and she chased the sheep because she just wanted to play with them. I got her back on the lead and carried on walking. 10 minutes later a quad came speeding past me and suddenly braked. At that time I thought nothing of it until the two farmers got off their quad with shotguns in hand and threatened to shoot my dog where she stood.
I am really angry that they think they have the right to talk to people like this while intimiidating with weapons. I’d like to see them acting ‘hard’ without the weapon on there own.
I would also like to hear how ‘Robyn Heap’ got on with her case if anybody knows.
February 19th, 2011 at 9.34 pm
In brief the law is:
1. A farmer commits a criminal offence in threatening to shoot a dog, and also in actually shooting a dog, unless he honestly believed his livestock was ‘in immediate need of protection’ and that ‘the means of protection adopted or proposed to be adopted were or would be reasonable having regard to all the circumstances’. So where shouting, throwing something or shooting over the head would be enough, then that is what should be done first to avoid committing an offence. (Criminal Damage Act 1971).
2. The dog owner can sue the farmer for compensation, and his only defence to killing a dog is he believed and had reasonable grounds for that belief, that either ‘there was no other reasonable means of ending or preventing the worrying’ or if the owner is not there, that ‘there was no practicable means of ascertaining to whom it belongs’. He must also have reported the shooting to the police within 48 hours. The dog owner has 6 years in which to bring an action for compensation. Some dogs are highly valuable. (Animals Act 1971).
3. The dog owner commits an offence if (a) their dog is in a field with livestock worrying them, Worrying means attacking livestock, or chasing livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or, in the case of females, abortion, or loss of or diminution in their produce; or (b) their dog is not under control in a field with sheep, even if he was not worrying them, but a police dog, a guide dog, trained sheep dog, a working gun dog or a pack of hounds are all excluded. (Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953).
April 4th, 2011 at 10.43 pm
fao hollie
can i just ask who owns or rents the land that you walk across? the farmer perhaps, you have no right to be angry beacuse they put livestock in the field. thats what they pay for, not for you to roam about!!!
You want to try looking after a lamb that has been injured after a dog attack, you know after 6-8months of rearing it, then for it to die of shock after the attack.
Keep your dog on a lead, its still getting a walk!!!
I do not condone threatening behaviour but farming is their livelyhood, and so for someone to damage that through pure neglegence is no acceptable.
April 6th, 2011 at 5.09 pm
our two family dogs got out and went for a walk dint bite anyone or attack anybody yethertfordshire police shot them both dead.the police dint call the rspca or dog handler they just shot tem dead.i have witnesses who saw what happened claiming the dogs were fine until te polc turned up and started to use their shield to try and cornerhem by the river.now a friend who knew our family and the dogs told the police that he knew the dogs and that they are not dangerour or aggressive nd he would take them home.the police refused to give him the dogs.nd shot them both dead am sueing. any advice if they can do that?
April 11th, 2011 at 8.34 pm
could anyone please help me i was recently walking my dog who is a whippet through land i know i am allowed through when a rabbit shot out in front of her and into the adjacent field, bieng a sight hound her natural instincts were to give chase dispite my calling her back. there are no sheep cows pigs chickens horses or any form of farm animals anywhere near just crops. i went through the bushes to retrieve my dog and when i retrieved her two IDIOTS with SHOTGUNS appeared out of nowhere telling me that i was on MR BIGSHOT FARMERs land and that if they saw me again they would shoot my dog!!! i politely informed them that if they did it would be the last thing they would ever do when i went into further detail with the two bellends i found out that it was a game shooting area for pheasants and partridge i appologised for being there and told them it was an accident but they just kept going on about the game keeper who would shoot my dog and be within the rights of the law and if i went to the police they would agree with him and confiscate my dog. Is this rightwould they be allowed to shoot my dog and Could the police confiscate my dog?………….p.s john hirshall i agree with you whole heartidly.
May 7th, 2011 at 9.16 pm
hollie , i am a farmer and you have no right to let your dog off it lead whilst ion a feild wheter the is livestock in it or not if you want to let your dog run around then take it to a park
May 30th, 2011 at 4.18 pm
No wonder this country is in the mess that it is with people like you lot the country side belongs to the farmers not you. I live on a farm and we have had dogs that worry sheep but like any dog owner with a brain we managed to stop them and to behave. If your dog gets shot its your fault we dont come to your garden with our animals you have been given a privelage to cross our land. Access to land should never of been aloud except public rights of way its not your property and if you dont like it walk them on council land. As for piss take i think he needs to get some help anyone with half a brain would just laugh at his comments.
May 30th, 2011 at 7.44 pm
i would shoot any thing that up set my live stock with out a care in the world
June 8th, 2011 at 12.50 pm
Having read all of the comments it does appear that this issue is very widely recognised. Recently in my local area farmers have started to appear with thier firearms in an effort to protect thier livestock, although i have had no dealings with these individuals I have heard reports of firearms being discharged in public spaces! The firarms law states that farmers have no legal right to shoot a dog, it is merely a defensive right that should only be used as a last resort. This, I believe, contravenes the actual fire arms licencing law, as to gain a licence for a firearm potential users must have a valid and recognised reson for use, of which shooting dogs is not one. With regards to the firearms licencing law, the law itself is extremely lapse and the whole thing needs a total review.
As a serving soldier I am a trained user of firearms and I am bound by a strict code of conduct, continued extensive training and safety set up, and even in an operational environment, as you would expect i remain bound by this code of conduct. The UK civilian firearms user is largely an untrained individual, they are bound by a loose and out dated policy and they recieve no training legalised training in either firearms use or safety parameters, yet farmers freely carry and discharge firearms in public places, putting not only themselves at risk, but also the public. Bear in mind these few points:
1. What type of weapon system are they using to shoot these dogs, because different weapons have different ranges, spread and power.
2. Have the users of these weapons had any training, how accurate are their weapons and how well maintained are they (remember these simple things are not mandatory by law).
3. Have the users taken into account the environment around them and the target, people, other animals may be in the firing line, who is covering the safety of firing arcs and where is the fall of shot going, ie. where is the bullet/shot/round going once discharged. Munitions spent have different capabilities and are capable of continuing their route of travel having passed straight through the intended target. Factor in missed shots, shots aimed high to scare and even warning shots fired into the air will still travel back down to earth at a rate of velocity which can still kill.
Add to these worrying points the issue of land. What many consider to be public right of way or public areas can often be access land which is allowed to be grazed by livestock outside of a designated fenced area, this land does not belong to the livestock owner so surely they grase thier animals at accepted risk? I can fully understand defending, as a last resort, animals on thier own private fenced land but surley this can not be acceptable behavior on an area of land used by the public. This issue is as outdated and lapse as the current firarms law.
Farmers and dog owners should be able to co-exsist, but this clearly is not the case there seems to be a number of dangourously intimidating farmers out there and a equaul number of poor dog owners. However on the whole most dog owners will control thier dogs effectivly, but there may be an occasion, prehaps where unsighted, where dogs engage in a chase, people have to remember all dogs have a chase instinct but not all will chase to kill, they chase for the excitement of the chase. Surely killing a dog is a bit barbaric in this day and age, wouldn’t a financial remuniration be a more acceptable method. Clearly I am accutely aware of the legal upset/wranglings that can amount through the effect and inforcement of either method.
In summary, my points are merely for interest/awareness and in some cases up for debate and clarification, as i have said the laws and rules around this issue leave a lot to be desired and as with a lot of out dated laws can be subject to varied interpretation. All comments are welcome.
June 9th, 2011 at 1.19 pm
There’s a lot of pathetic people here who can’t take responsibility for their own actions. If you own a dog, keep it under control. Why is that so hard to get into skulls? If your dog threatens someone else’s animals, what gives you the right to whine like a bitch when that person defends their property and livelihood? If you’re still too fucking stupid to understand this, just reverse the situation: how would you feel if someone released their pitbull into your garden and killed your dog? It’s the same thing, you brainless scum. You moaning pieces of shit just can’t accept that you *killed your own dogs* through your lack of care for their well-being. If you really cared about animals, yours and other people’s, you’d take responsibility for your own actions. If anything you should shoot yourselves and rid society of your defective genes, before you hurt more animals.
June 28th, 2011 at 10.02 pm
The best thing to do is keep the dog on a lead. If the dog is on a lead, it will not bother any farmer’s livestock and he will have no reason to shoot your dog.
“I am so angry that every single footpath off my village is filled with livestock. Its so hard to let your dog run anywhere incase the are mistaken for threatening livestock.”
Forestry commission and woodland trust owned land is usually “right to roam”. You should look into it and see if there are any FC or WT woods near you.
A farmer is there to make money, and support himself and his family if he has one. And farmers support themselves growing crops and rearing livestock. I am good friends with a few farmers, and none of them like to shoot dogs. They sometimes have to, but only as a last resort. The last time any of them had to shoot a dog wa sover ten years ago, when a gang was walking about on private land setting their dogs on sheep and actually killing the sheep. In a case like this, there was no other option. The bad thing is not all farmers use shooting as a last resort. Some farmers shoot any dog that is off the lead, and this is wrong unless the dog is worrying livestock.
If your dog was shot when it wasn’t bothering any animals, then the farmer is in the wrong. But if your dog is shot while running around a field with livestock in, then it is your fault for having it off the lead. That’s why you should always have the dog on a lead unless on Forestry commission or woodland trust property that you know is open access. If you are near farmland, you should get it on a lead to be safe, as your dog may find a hole in a fence and chase farm animals.
June 30th, 2011 at 8.04 pm
Farmers. If a sheep or lamb gets onto my land can I shoot it?
July 25th, 2011 at 12.34 pm
Dogs are dangerous, I’m sick to death of them. any farmer who rids the world of one of these creatures did the world a favour