Hello Everyone

[fife]

Hi all,

Sorry have not been on for a while we are having a really bad lambing season! Last week my husband came in to tell me we had five sheep missing which are all in lamb i told him i hadn't seen any loose during the day (this was in the evening). Next morning he got up early and went looking on the quad we were puzzeled as even if sheep get loose they will only go and stay where there is grass. My husband came back to tell me that he had found the sheep scattered down by the spinney all having been mauled by what looked like a dog. To cut a long story short it was two dogs that had got loose from one of the neighbours houses we were furious as this isn't the first time they have had one of our sheep and they tried to cover it up. Since this we have also had two double lambs that have been born dead (slip lamb) due to the sheep being run around by these dogs. We are not happy bunny's as you can imagine.

Anyway on a lighter note hope you are all okay


Fife

[Crocus]

Hi Fife, what disturbing news! Goodness, I can't imagine how you must feel! Best wishes!

[Healing Hands]

My goodeness fife is there anything you can do to get these people to keep their dogs on their leads and away from your sheep. This must be very disturbing for you and your husband. It makes me so angry when people do not abide by the countryside rules.

[Pippa]

Would your husband be within his rights to shoot these dogs, or is that a bit drastic. Farming is hard enough without this sort of incident.

[sunflower]

Hi fife, so sorry to hear your news. What a bad time you have had. I can imagine it must be heartbreaking to loose lambs in such a violent way. Especially after all the time and energy spent in looking after the sheep so that healthy lambs will be born. I guess you would need solid proof to prosecute the dog owners. I mean photos of them in your field and on your property. But of course, all this costs money, like CT cameras. Take care, and thinking of you. xxx

[Oola]

Sounds like the owners need to train their dogs to stop them seeing the sheep as something to chase. It can be done easily with some patience and is an alternative to euthanasia.

However you should look into getting the law involved - is there any way teeth marks or something can be used as evidence?

[fife]

Hi thanks for all the support, pippa yes we would be well within our rights to shoot the dogs although they would have to be in the act, and to be honest neither myself or my husband would want to do this. The problem is that these people we get on well with but i feel the were dishonest when they new that there dogs had done this only that they had not washed all the blood of one of the dogs nose my husband would have not confronted them which they have then apologised and offered to pay for the dead sheep and lambs and any that have died due to the incident, it's not about the money as one of you rightly pointed out we have cared for these sheep all year got them into lamb and then this happens. Oola as i understand it once a dog has got a taste of blood it is very hard to stop this i have known farmers who have got rid of dogs because of this but iam sure that with proper training and obiedance this could be stop problem is the dog owners leave there dogs out all night as guard dogs and i hope iam right in saying don't really see them as pets which is a real shame, we have just told them in know uncertain terms that if this were to happen again (bearing in mind not the first time) that we will take legal action of some description.

[eleanor2]

poor fife it makes things so stressfull for you.hope they keep their dogs on lead or you will have to take legal action .sad but it must be heartbreaking for you.