Shooting Dogs

[Boddie]

Poor poor farmers

[The Woodman]

Never criticise farmers with your mouth full.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Never criticise farmers with your mouth full.

I can see that but guess that most farmers would be equally as reliant on someone like me if they fell ill

[muldonach]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Poor poor farmers

It would be interesting indeed to see if your laissez-faire approach survived a bunch of bullocks breaking into your garden and the resultant trashing of plants and furniture.

The relative wealth of farmers is not, as I understand it, the point at discussion, rather the rights, or otherwise, of farmers to take direct action to protect their stock from animals out of their owners control.

Farmers are legally bound to control their own stock and are liable for damage caused by loss of control such as an animal straying on to a road or a bull punting a tourist / dog walker over a hedge.

Your apparently believe that farmers should as a gesture of goodwill also provide scope for free running uncontrolled dogs - or have I misunderstood you?

Cheers
mac

[Boddie]

I'll again use the example of exactly the same fields and the fact that the sheep are regularly in the village due to his neglect at keeping his dry walls maintained.

I think I could confidently say that not a night goes by without his sheep appearing on the main road between Bolton and Blackburn.

If a bunch of bullocks wrecked my garden and furniture I'd probably find it amusing. I don't tend to get too wound up by what I would class as an accident.

How many times 'as a gesture of goodwill' do I have to shepherd the sheep back into fields for the safety of local road users, leaving my car at the bottom of the hill, with hazard lights on as a warning to drivers?

Do I bleat on about it? No, I just get on with it. I consider it the neighbourly thing to do.

It is heartening to know however that sheep, whilst worried by dogs, apparently aren't the slightest bit bothered by cars or motorbikes driving in excess of 80 mph towards them.

Amazing

[stigofthedump]

Originally Posted by Boddie

I am simply suggesting the farmers try to help themselves.

I'm with you Boddie. If you can foresee a problem, you put every effort into a proactive solution.


Cost implications....it happens to every self employed person, I can tell you

Vince.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by stigofthedump

I'm with you Boddie. If you can foresee a problem, you put every effort into a proactive solution.


Cost implications....it happens to every self employed person, I can tell you

Vince.

Apparently not Vince. Somewhat uniquely we seem to have farmers on here that feed me and do it all free of charge.

[muldonach]

Originally Posted by stigofthedump

I'm with you Boddie. If you can foresee a problem, you put every effort into a proactive solution.


Cost implications....it happens to every self employed person, I can tell you

Vince.

I fully agree that if you forsee a problem you put every effort into a proactive solution.

Dog Leads cost a few pounds, fencing costs about £6 per metre, any ground fenced off and "abandoned" will result in a pro-rata loss of SFP if applicable. So the pro-active solution as far as I am concerned is for dog owners to keep their dogs under control.

A farmer is responsible for his stock, dog owners for their dogs.

In considering this matter you may wish to bear in mind that an average stock ewe at the moment is worth about £150, lambs about £40-120 depending on age, breed and condition. It is possible (but not easy) to hold a dog owner liable for damages caused.

Cheers
mac

[stigofthedump]

Mac you are absolutely right. Each of us should be responsible for our respective charges, but we all know that there are people who lack any sort of responsibility.

The cost to me of security fencing, skip netting, heavy plant protection and Sitex makes me weep.
Who am I paying all this out because of, mostly children......so if we had responsible parents my costs would drop dramatically and I would be a happy bunny. Fact is it's not going to happen so I take this pro-active approach to keep insurance costs down.

I know of one farmer who's maintenance of one part of his fence/gate was (is ?, I no longer live in the area ) so lacking that, in my view, would have prevented him from having to shoot two dogs. And yes the dogs should have been on leads but as above re responsible people!

All of this is not a dig at farmers, I'm sure that I would shoot a beast that was costing me money, time and anxiety too ( children........no, no, no dont even think about it Vince ) But I still maintain that Boddie has a valid point.


Vince

[fairplay]

Does a police officer have a duty to divulge the name or address of a farmer or land owner where a dog was shot, to an enquiring owner ?

I ask this, because if a farmer who catches a dog running amuck amongst his sheep, with no owner in site, and is aware that if he were to shoot the dog and comply with the law by reporting it to the police within 48 hours, he may be very reluctant to shoot if he knew the police may pass on his name to a worried owner who turns up later at a police station to report their missing dog.

If it is the case that a dog owner can demand to know where and by who his dog had been shot, then I believe it is high time this onus on the farmer (to report it to the police) should be abandoned.

It is highly likely that an irresponsible dog owner and a nasty violent person go together and a farmer trying to protect his stock should not have to worry about being attacked by such a moron.

I would even go so far as to say that having had your dog shot, should be no reason for the police not to proceed with criminal charges AGAINST THE DOG OWNER nor should it prevent the farmer himself making a claim for damages against the dog owner (and those damages should include psychological injury as well, as I am sure to have to shoot a dog is a very emotional time for the farmer too)

Naturally, if the dog belonged to a little old lady, then action shouldn't be pursued, but if the owner was seen as a yobo type who couldn't give two hoots, then take it further.

As can be seen, I am with the farmers 100% on this issue.

Neil.