Sheep Worrying Conviction

TristanP

Member
Location
East Sussex
It might not. They own a pet shop. A bit of bad press might be just the thing.
Had similar a few years ago with a neighbour who ran a boarding kennels. Two dogs got in with some pregnant ewes, marked and scanned them separately to rest of the flock as only way to determine damage. Neighbour didn't want to apologise, argued everything. The person walking the dogs got a caution, and I took him to court and got compensation.

Long road to get the win but happy to dig out the letters sent, witness statements/evidence pack that I had which you can use as templates. My best man is a solicitor so called in a favour with him.

Thinking on it, it would be handy is NSA had similar templates/letters they could give out to help people.
 

Sprig

Member
Had similar a few years ago with a neighbour who ran a boarding kennels. Two dogs got in with some pregnant ewes, marked and scanned them separately to rest of the flock as only way to determine damage. Neighbour didn't want to apologise, argued everything. The person walking the dogs got a caution, and I took him to court and got compensation.

Long road to get the win but happy to dig out the letters sent, witness statements/evidence pack that I had which you can use as templates. My best man is a solicitor so called in a favour with him.

Thinking on it, it would be handy is NSA had similar templates/letters they could give out to help people.
That would be great, thanks v much. I will PM you. I am pleased that you had a good outcome.
 

BAF

Member
Livestock Farmer
We're in the unfortunate position to own 20 acres with not 1 but 2 foot paths across it. I've put signs up and spoken to people about keeping their dog on a lead and sticking to the footpath and I may as well be speaking swahili. One old codger thinks it's his right to walk the perimeter of the top field and another likes to walk from the road across the field to let his dog crap and have 10 mins on his phone and meander back. I caught him back in March time walking through the ewes and lambs with his dog off the lead. I'm not a big time sheep farmer by any stretch but if anything that makes every single lamb more valuable because I've only got a few to work with! I put a video of him on Facebook on the local village group and asked him to explain why he thought it was OK to not stick to the footpath, not use a footpath as intended as a thoroughfare and why he thought his loose dog wouldn't be causing worry and distress to my ewes and lambs. I havent seen him up there since!
Another year I was picking up a dead tup lamb, not sure if they'd been run about or it just found sheep Nirvana but they were all very skittish and then some little rat dog comes running down the field after another pedigree lamb and started running it up and down the fence. The woman with it had no control. At the third time of asking, when I told her she wouldn't have to chase it to catch it in a minute, she told me if I'd just get my sheep under control she'd be able to catch little snuffles. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the audacity of it.
It's a pain that isn't going to get better anytime soon.
 

Sprig

Member
We're in the unfortunate position to own 20 acres with not 1 but 2 foot paths across it. I've put signs up and spoken to people about keeping their dog on a lead and sticking to the footpath and I may as well be speaking swahili. One old codger thinks it's his right to walk the perimeter of the top field and another likes to walk from the road across the field to let his dog crap and have 10 mins on his phone and meander back. I caught him back in March time walking through the ewes and lambs with his dog off the lead. I'm not a big time sheep farmer by any stretch but if anything that makes every single lamb more valuable because I've only got a few to work with! I put a video of him on Facebook on the local village group and asked him to explain why he thought it was OK to not stick to the footpath, not use a footpath as intended as a thoroughfare and why he thought his loose dog wouldn't be causing worry and distress to my ewes and lambs. I havent seen him up there since!
Another year I was picking up a dead tup lamb, not sure if they'd been run about or it just found sheep Nirvana but they were all very skittish and then some little rat dog comes running down the field after another pedigree lamb and started running it up and down the fence. The woman with it had no control. At the third time of asking, when I told her she wouldn't have to chase it to catch it in a minute, she told me if I'd just get my sheep under control she'd be able to catch little snuffles. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the audacity of it.
It's a pain that isn't going to get better anytime soon.
We are v fortunate not to have any rights of way across our land, that must be a nightmare. I think in your position I would be fencing off the footpath, at least with electric fencing.
 

BAF

Member
Livestock Farmer
We are v fortunate not to have any rights of way across our land, that must be a nightmare. I think in your position I would be fencing off the footpath, at least with electric fencing.
We've tried electric fence and it some how manages to fall over 🤷‍♂️ must be very windy up there when I'm not about. When I win the lottery I'm going to fence it out with deer fencing!
 

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
We are v fortunate not to have any rights of way across our land, that must be a nightmare. I think in your position I would be fencing off the footpath, at least with electric fencing.
My 50 acre lambing field has 5 footpaths through it and crossing it and borders a large village and I can’t think that I’ve ever had any real problems there, I think it’s because it’s so busy they self police it. The real problems are hidden field that people don’t think anyone will see what going on.
 
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BAF

Member
Livestock Farmer
My 50 acre lambing field has 5 footpaths through it and crossing it and borders a large village and I can’t think that I’ve ever had any real problems there, I think it’s because it’s so busy the self police it. The real problems are hidden field that people doing think anyone will see what going on.
The biggest problem with ours is that it's bordered by half a dozen bungalows and they feel that it's it's field and its their right to use it however they want. All of them are incomers from darn sarf in the last 20yrs.
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
I had a dog chase and kill lambs in my field. Luckily i was there and caught them red handed. The owner of the dog will be prosecuted, so will see how severe the new penalties will be here in Scotland.
Good luck. When similar happened here, the fiscal decided not to bother and the chap got off with a trivial fine. Might be worth making sure police know you won’t accept anything less than full prosecution.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
Good luck. When similar happened here, the fiscal decided not to bother and the chap got off with a trivial fine. Might be worth making sure police know you won’t accept anything less than full prosecution.
I hope you at least sent a heart felt letter to the Lord Advocate.

I did, about straying stock on the road, predicting that someone was going to get killed. Sadly, I was right and I was required to appear as a witness at the fatal accident inquiry. The procurator fiscal concerned departed to work in private practice.

"Evil flourishes where good men do nothing".....and god knows there is plenty where that came from up here.
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
I hope you at least sent a heart felt letter to the Lord Advocate.

I did, about straying stock on the road, predicting that someone was going to get killed. Sadly, I was right and I was required to appear as a witness at the fatal accident inquiry. The procurator fiscal concerned departed to work in private practice.

"Evil flourishes where good men do nothing".....and god knows there is plenty where that came from up here.
I put in a formal request for the case to be opened (not allowed, apparently) and also emailed Emma Harper’s office (she’s the one who pushed the updated law through court), but haven’t sent anything to the LA yet. Good call on that one. Will get to it after lambing. Lazy decision making on the part of the PF, I’d say - and poor show that they didn’t ask the victim (me) to agree before making the lenient decision.

Interestingly, the case was handled form down south (Strathclyde I think) so not a local problem. More likely a kid who doesn’t know what a sheep is, far less it’s value. My compensation just about covered vets fees but not stock losses.
 

Sprig

Member
I had a dog chase and kill lambs in my field. Luckily i was there and caught them red handed. The owner of the dog will be prosecuted, so will see how severe the new penalties will be here in Scotland.
Sorry to hear this but well done for catching them. It would be great if you could create a post re: the outcome of your case when you get that point. I know that quite a few of us will be interested to hear how it went.
 

Tartan snow

Member
Livestock Farmer
Sorry to hear this but well done for catching them. It would be great if you could create a post re: the outcome of your case when you get that point. I know that quite a few of us will be interested to hear how it went.
I will do. Im getting some good pointers of here. ..regarding maybe contacting the nsa for advice, also thinking about a civil case. ...im planning to get the conviction and compensation i deserve. Including future earnings from killed stock. Sturgeon can't talk the talk and not walk the walk surely! Regarding stiff penalties for sheep worrying. Not to mention farmer worrying...it's getting to the stage that i dont want to leave the farm anymore just in case it happens again.
 
There is massive rural canine discrimination, it’s an absolute fecking joke.

Chase a big rabbit with your dog - dog’s seized, prison sentence, big fine.... police helicopters and multiple units to catch you.

Get caught red handed killing stock - get your dog back, maybe a wee fine and a little telling off.

F*cking bullsh*t
I’ve been thinking of this ..... is the reason .... because those who have the money and power own large arable estates and not sheep farms ???
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
I’ve been thinking of this ..... is the reason .... because those who have the money and power own large arable estates and not sheep farms ???
There might be something in this. Going back to the seizure of guns, a friend of mine was concerned about his landlord exercising his dogs amongst his lambing ewes. So he went to the local police for advice. He was told to have a polite word and if that did not work, to point out that he had a right to shoot the dogs if he did not stop and they disturbed the sheep. He followed this advice to the letter....and promptly got his own guns seized! It took weeks and an expensive solicitor to get his guns back. That sort of discrimination is outrageous.
 

Farmer dyke

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Netherlands
Quite the read, must be tough having public paths in the fields sometimes, we have one along a dyke but theres never dogs there. We've had dogs attacks a handful times, but if you catch them and get police involved you will get all costs covered if you stand your ground.

The last time 3 dogs from some woman who had them unleashed somehow saw our ewe lambs on a little field behind some houses below the dyke where she was walking, dogs when straight down dyke across road, over gate and in the field, luckily my dad was just there and saw them running in his mirror! Were on really good terms with all the people there especially a woman who lives right next to the field who didn't hesitate and jumped in the mucky ditch to separate a dog and 2 lambs who were drowning while still getting bitten at. Dad called me to get there quickly with trailer, police were there in 5 minutes, vet in 10 minutes to stitch up 2 ewes and give some meds to treat them coming days, now the fun part of making our bill; My time, dads time, running costs of car and trailer, vet costs+meds+house visit to see how they were doing, costs of housing them inside for couple days and costs of delayed growth. Her insurance paid for it all in the end.
 
We have had a successful prosecution, have to be very firm with the police though they try and smooth it all over
Something I won't tolerate is sheep worrying.
Threw the book at the guy 1 savaged ewe cost him £1000
2nd time £200 for a bitten ewe lamb
and a couple of chases, I'm on it straight away if I see any loose dogs on our footpaths, and very aggressive, no point in mincing your words with these T**sers, word soon gets round
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
Quite the read, must be tough having public paths in the fields sometimes, we have one along a dyke but theres never dogs there. We've had dogs attacks a handful times, but if you catch them and get police involved you will get all costs covered if you stand your ground.

The last time 3 dogs from some woman who had them unleashed somehow saw our ewe lambs on a little field behind some houses below the dyke where she was walking, dogs when straight down dyke across road, over gate and in the field, luckily my dad was just there and saw them running in his mirror! Were on really good terms with all the people there especially a woman who lives right next to the field who didn't hesitate and jumped in the mucky ditch to separate a dog and 2 lambs who were drowning while still getting bitten at. Dad called me to get there quickly with trailer, police were there in 5 minutes, vet in 10 minutes to stitch up 2 ewes and give some meds to treat them coming days, now the fun part of making our bill; My time, dads time, running costs of car and trailer, vet costs+meds+house visit to see how they were doing, costs of housing them inside for couple days and costs of delayed growth. Her insurance paid for it all in the end.
Make sure your time is charged at proper contractor rates. £15+/hr
 

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