Warning to dog owners after new sheep attack

11:50am Thursday 20th September 2012 in Bradford By Craig Jones

Reserves manager Joe Middleton with some of the sheep Reserves manager Joe Middleton with some of the sheep

A savage dog attack on a sheep in Monkton Farleigh has left the future of an Avon Wildlife Trust nature reserve project under threat.

Joe Middleton, Reserves manager with Avon Wildlife Trust, discovered one of five Wiltshire Horn sheep, which were reintroduced to the sloped fields of Brown’s Folly, last Wednesday, mauled just 24 hours later.

The sheep graze for the winter at the scientific interest site which is open to the public and homes a variety of wildlife habitats.

Mr Middleton said: “We actually only reintroduced the sheep for the winter on Wednesday and they were only there 24 hours when we got the call to say one of the sheep had blood around its face.

“I got up there and its jaw was basically hanging off. We took it to the vets where unfortunately it had to be put down.”

The incident was reported to Wiltshire Police and follows a similar attack where three Wiltshire Horn Sheep had to be put down because they were mauled by a dog at a six-acre Monkton Farleigh holding on Saturday, September 8.

Mr Middleton said: “This is worrying as a trend is starting to develop and it obviously means that there might be a dog not under control. But because the field has a kissing gate the dog must have been let in by someone.”

Bradford on Avon Police have reminded dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead when walking them in fields near other animals and stressed their dogs risked being killed.

PCSO Andrew MacLachlan said: “Dog walkers need to be aware that there is legislation out there that allows farmers to shoot a dog that is worrying their livestock. We need people to understand that this could happen and is allowed as long as the dog is providing a genuine threat.”

A farmer in Limpley Stoke shot a dog that was worrying his livestock on Tuesday, September 11.

Mr Middleton said that this is action the Avon Wildlife Trust wouldn’t take but if incidents like this continued they would consider stopping public access to the public nature reserve or removing the sheep from Brown’s Folly which could damage their project.

He said: “It is a three year project on a site which we’d been trying to work on for five years and it would be hugely affected if we lost the sheep grazing there.

“The remaining four Wiltshire Horn Sheep are going to stay on the slopes for the time being. We are hoping the incident was a one off, and with all the fantastic hard work from both Sheep watchers and the local police in Bradford on Avon, the sheep will stay on for the rest of the winter.”

Police have stepped up patrols in the area as well as delivered a letter, warning dog owners to be responsible, to every residence in Monkton Farleigh while Avon Wildlife Trust and their team of local sheep watchers are regularly checking Brown’s Folly.

Anyone with information can call Wiltshire Police on 101 and to find out more about Brown’s Folly visit www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/browns_folly.htm.

Comments (9)

4:13pm Thu 20 Sep 12

anthrax says...

This is exactly why I refuse to buy British meat and buy European milk wherever possible. Our farmers are a bunch of greedy, stupid, ignorant, inbred oafs with an overinflated sense of entitlement and importance. Quick enough to decimate foxes, moles, badgers, birds of prey and other wildlife (to keep their profits fat and their blood-**** sated), they quickly turn victim when it suits.

How about keeping vulnerable livestock (i.e. sheep) out of fields that are intersected by public footpaths, or are you all too busy burning down your own outbuildings in a pathetic quest for more (insurance) money? Half of you don't even look after your own livestock properly.

Increasing numbers of the public are fed up with farmers playing victim; are fed up with farmers voting for The Greedy Party; are fed up with "poor" farmers swanning about in top of the line Range Rovers; are fed up with farmers decimating badgers and other wildlife; are fed up with toys-out-of-the-pram blockades; are fed up with livestock cruelty; are fed up with second-rate meat and dairy products and are fed up with the shoot first ask later mentality, whether it be dogs or burglars.

The gulf is widening and when the revolution comes you'll all be first on the pyres.
This is exactly why I refuse to buy British meat and buy European milk wherever possible. Our farmers are a bunch of greedy, stupid, ignorant, inbred oafs with an overinflated sense of entitlement and importance. Quick enough to decimate foxes, moles, badgers, birds of prey and other wildlife (to keep their profits fat and their blood-**** sated), they quickly turn victim when it suits. How about keeping vulnerable livestock (i.e. sheep) out of fields that are intersected by public footpaths, or are you all too busy burning down your own outbuildings in a pathetic quest for more (insurance) money? Half of you don't even look after your own livestock properly. Increasing numbers of the public are fed up with farmers playing victim; are fed up with farmers voting for The Greedy Party; are fed up with "poor" farmers swanning about in top of the line Range Rovers; are fed up with farmers decimating badgers and other wildlife; are fed up with toys-out-of-the-pram blockades; are fed up with livestock cruelty; are fed up with second-rate meat and dairy products and are fed up with the shoot first ask later mentality, whether it be dogs or burglars. The gulf is widening and when the revolution comes you'll all be first on the pyres. anthrax

4:18pm Thu 20 Sep 12

anthrax says...

RSPCA calls for boycott of West Country dairy products:

http://www.independe
nt.co.uk/environment
/nature/rspca-calls-
for-milk-boycott-as-
farmers-prepare-for-
badger-cull-8157382.
html
RSPCA calls for boycott of West Country dairy products: http://www.independe nt.co.uk/environment /nature/rspca-calls- for-milk-boycott-as- farmers-prepare-for- badger-cull-8157382. html anthrax

4:19pm Thu 20 Sep 12

anthrax says...

http://www.rspca.org
.uk/getinvolved/camp
aigns/wildlife/badge
rs
http://www.rspca.org .uk/getinvolved/camp aigns/wildlife/badge rs anthrax

6:03am Fri 21 Sep 12

redrum says...

Just think of what damage this dog is capable of doing to a child then. Dog owners should always keep their dogs on leads in a field with animals in. The dog owner should be found and not allowed to keep dogs again after having the dog taken away, they obviously have no control over their dog. Many dogs attack due to lack of training and irresponsible behavior of their owners and then they end up suffering the consequences, often being put down. What this dog is capable of is frightening to say the least and why was its owner not near enough to intervene and save the animal being so badly mauled. A very nasty comment that is directed at farmers, nobody deserves to watch an animal of theirs suffering because of ignorance of pet owners. Perhaps Antrax is the dog owner from the sound of that comment?
Just think of what damage this dog is capable of doing to a child then. Dog owners should always keep their dogs on leads in a field with animals in. The dog owner should be found and not allowed to keep dogs again after having the dog taken away, they obviously have no control over their dog. Many dogs attack due to lack of training and irresponsible behavior of their owners and then they end up suffering the consequences, often being put down. What this dog is capable of is frightening to say the least and why was its owner not near enough to intervene and save the animal being so badly mauled. A very nasty comment that is directed at farmers, nobody deserves to watch an animal of theirs suffering because of ignorance of pet owners. Perhaps Antrax is the dog owner from the sound of that comment? redrum

8:37am Fri 21 Sep 12

moocherx says...

A dog that is let loose to attack a field of sheep, is a dog that could easily be shot by a farmer without the owner caring less. Dog owners who actually care for their pets, wouldn't allow them to attack sheep. It's as easy as that.
A dog that is let loose to attack a field of sheep, is a dog that could easily be shot by a farmer without the owner caring less. Dog owners who actually care for their pets, wouldn't allow them to attack sheep. It's as easy as that. moocherx

12:59pm Fri 21 Sep 12

WHATDIDSHESAY? says...

anthrax wrote:
This is exactly why I refuse to buy British meat and buy European milk wherever possible. Our farmers are a bunch of greedy, stupid, ignorant, inbred oafs with an overinflated sense of entitlement and importance. Quick enough to decimate foxes, moles, badgers, birds of prey and other wildlife (to keep their profits fat and their blood-**** sated), they quickly turn victim when it suits. How about keeping vulnerable livestock (i.e. sheep) out of fields that are intersected by public footpaths, or are you all too busy burning down your own outbuildings in a pathetic quest for more (insurance) money? Half of you don't even look after your own livestock properly. Increasing numbers of the public are fed up with farmers playing victim; are fed up with farmers voting for The Greedy Party; are fed up with "poor" farmers swanning about in top of the line Range Rovers; are fed up with farmers decimating badgers and other wildlife; are fed up with toys-out-of-the-pram blockades; are fed up with livestock cruelty; are fed up with second-rate meat and dairy products and are fed up with the shoot first ask later mentality, whether it be dogs or burglars. The gulf is widening and when the revolution comes you'll all be first on the pyres.
Did a farmer shoot your dog or something? I know a couple of farmers and you are talking out of your anus. 10 years ago you might have had a slither of a point. Farming is on its asre in this ever increasing capitalist world. Show me a farmer that does not work less than 60/70 hours a week.
Also, shoot first and ask question later? If a burglar is on my property and invading my life and i have a legal gun to hand, i'm using it.
[quote][p][bold]anthrax[/bold] wrote: This is exactly why I refuse to buy British meat and buy European milk wherever possible. Our farmers are a bunch of greedy, stupid, ignorant, inbred oafs with an overinflated sense of entitlement and importance. Quick enough to decimate foxes, moles, badgers, birds of prey and other wildlife (to keep their profits fat and their blood-**** sated), they quickly turn victim when it suits. How about keeping vulnerable livestock (i.e. sheep) out of fields that are intersected by public footpaths, or are you all too busy burning down your own outbuildings in a pathetic quest for more (insurance) money? Half of you don't even look after your own livestock properly. Increasing numbers of the public are fed up with farmers playing victim; are fed up with farmers voting for The Greedy Party; are fed up with "poor" farmers swanning about in top of the line Range Rovers; are fed up with farmers decimating badgers and other wildlife; are fed up with toys-out-of-the-pram blockades; are fed up with livestock cruelty; are fed up with second-rate meat and dairy products and are fed up with the shoot first ask later mentality, whether it be dogs or burglars. The gulf is widening and when the revolution comes you'll all be first on the pyres.[/p][/quote]Did a farmer shoot your dog or something? I know a couple of farmers and you are talking out of your anus. 10 years ago you might have had a slither of a point. Farming is on its asre in this ever increasing capitalist world. Show me a farmer that does not work less than 60/70 hours a week. Also, shoot first and ask question later? If a burglar is on my property and invading my life and i have a legal gun to hand, i'm using it. WHATDIDSHESAY?

1:59pm Fri 21 Sep 12

notscot says...

moocherx wrote:
A dog that is let loose to attack a field of sheep, is a dog that could easily be shot by a farmer without the owner caring less. Dog owners who actually care for their pets, wouldn't allow them to attack sheep. It's as easy as that.
Exactly.
Can't see why anyone would disagree with you.
Don't see the difficulty in the putting a leash on a dog when there is livestock about.
[quote][p][bold]moocherx[/bold] wrote: A dog that is let loose to attack a field of sheep, is a dog that could easily be shot by a farmer without the owner caring less. Dog owners who actually care for their pets, wouldn't allow them to attack sheep. It's as easy as that.[/p][/quote]Exactly. Can't see why anyone would disagree with you. Don't see the difficulty in the putting a leash on a dog when there is livestock about. notscot

12:41pm Sat 22 Sep 12

weasels ripped my flesh says...

A simple solution would be for several police officers to dress up in sheep's clothing and nonchalantly hang around in the field during the night. When the savage dog appeared they would give it the fright of it's life and nab the owner. His punishment would then be to be smeared in the scent of all the nicest ewes and put in to a locked pen with the **** ram they can find.
A simple solution would be for several police officers to dress up in sheep's clothing and nonchalantly hang around in the field during the night. When the savage dog appeared they would give it the fright of it's life and nab the owner. His punishment would then be to be smeared in the scent of all the nicest ewes and put in to a locked pen with the **** ram they can find. weasels ripped my flesh

1:37pm Sat 22 Sep 12

beetawix says...

A very cunning idea Weasels. Provided the aggregate of police strength outweighed that of the dog(s), this should work. Alternatively, as cold weather is approaching, the police could stake out the site in a van equipped with CCTV thus allowing them to monitor events on EweTube.
A very cunning idea Weasels. Provided the aggregate of police strength outweighed that of the dog(s), this should work. Alternatively, as cold weather is approaching, the police could stake out the site in a van equipped with CCTV thus allowing them to monitor events on EweTube. beetawix

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