Dog walkers should let go of their animal if threatened by cattle
A woman has been trampled to death by cows while walking her dogs.
The incident happened on Saturday in a field at St Fagans, Cardiff, while the 63-year-old was walking with another woman, who was unharmed. The women were not on a footpath at the time.
Ambulance personnel tended to the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
South Wales Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and that the coroner had been informed.
Tom Franklin, chief executive of the Ramblers, earlier this month issued the following advice: “The British countryside is healthy, working land which is why it’s such a pleasure to walk in. The chance to see animals up close is something not to be missed.
“As with any working environment, there are certain risks. However, the incidents of people being attacked by cattle are few and far between, thankfully.
“We urge everyone out walking to be aware of the ‘dos and don’ts’ of walking in fields with cows and their calves at this time of year, but not to let the very low risk of cattle attacks put them off enjoying the countryside when it is – arguably – at its loveliest.”
The Ramblers’ advice is:
- Try not to get between cows and their calves
- Be prepared for cattle to react to your presence, especially if you have a dog with you
- Move quickly and quietly, and if possible walk around them
- Keep your dog close and under proper control
- Don’t hang onto your dog. If you are threatened by animals – let it go as the cow will chase after that
- Don’t put yourself at risk. Find another way round the cows and rejoin the footpath as soon as possible
- Don’t panic! Most cows will stop before they reach you. If they follow just walk on quietly.
- Don’t forget to report any problems to the highway authority.
Last month, Liz Crowsley, 49, a veterinary surgeon from Warrington, Cheshire, died after she was trampled by a herd of cows as she walked on Sunday with her two dogs near the hamlet of Gayle, near Hawes, in Wensleydale.
Earlier this month, a court ordered a farmer to pay £¼ million compensation to a walker who was left severely injured when cows trampled her on his land.
Shirley McKaskie was walking with her jack russell dog across farmland at Greystoke, Cumbria, when she was attacked by a herd with calves six years ago.
AG Musgrove
20 July 2009Your comments on this article...
For mine, these women blandly walking their dogs among cattle are absolutely bloody stupid.
What do they expect?
The cattle have proprietary natures and can be dangerous even to their own farmer when they are with calves.
The cattle are not attacking the ladies walking, rather their dogs and quite frankly anyone taking a Jack Russell into a herd with calves beggars belief and is simply beyond comprehrension.
The Ramblers advise ignores the most obvious - Dont take a dog into a paddock where there are cattle especially where any cattle have calves.
The observation by Mr Franks "the chance to see animls close up" is simply mindless and reprehensible - working farms are not public zoos.
AG Musgrove
Anon
21 July 2009If it's a public right of way then as a member of the public one has a right to use it.
There is too much shrugging of responsibility by landowners. As someone that lives in the countryside, this is something I see all-too-often.
Martin
21 July 2009Shouldn't that intro start ... "ANOTHER walker has been trampled to death...."? Is Tom Franklin's comment of few and far between getting outdated? I grew up in dairy country (although in a dogless family) and simply don't recall this being an issue. Is there a trend or just better reporting? If there is a trend, there's a(nother) major rumble between walkers and farmers looming, because the choice will be between moving or closing paths, or telling dairy farmers they can't put the herd in a pasture with a public right of way - and on some farms that could be most of them....
Mr. Farmer
21 July 2009The countryside in the main is :
A working environment, and thus can be dangerous to anyone entering it who is not familiar and experienced, especially with any dog !
And, just as importantly, not a playground for the masses.
Jhimmy
21 July 2009As I've said before, the farmers fields are a working enviroment not a play field. Being a RoW doesn't mean you have the right TO the field.
Can you imagine what would happen if the public took their dogs walking in a car factory? It wouldn't be allowed. Yet, many farms are being used as such.
Mr Tourist
23 July 2009I think Mr Farmer has got it badly wrong. The countryside IS now a " playground for the masses" whether you like it or not; and " rights of way " are exactly that. Unfortunately it's " the masses " who visit these areas who now support the local economy more than any farmer does. I'm not saying I like the idea; it's sad but true.
Mattk
23 July 2009•Don’t panic! Most cows will stop before they reach you. If they follow just walk on quietly.
Only half right. If the cows are too inquisitive do NOT turn your back on them. If they are feeling threatened by the dog they are probably also wary of you. If they are getting too close then turn and face them, turn your back and they'll come closer!
Carole
29 July 2009Have there been any instances of walkers beeing attacked if they don't have a dog?
AG Musgrove
10 August 2009Carole,
With common sense you will be fine with cattle.
But please be sensible.
If it is tupping season, do not put yourself in a position with any bulls [young or old] and its best to keep well away. They are full of hormones, jumpy, easily upset.
If you have your dog they will chase it
.
Likewise, if it is cows with calves at foot, keep well away. These are not playthings or family pets.
If you have your dog they will chase it.
Do NOT approach to handle the calves unless you have the farmer with you.
Do NOT take your dog into a paddock with cattle - if nothing else it will always attract the cattle as they are naturally very nosy, and if the dog annoys them things can get tense.
In the main remember, if you treat them quietly then the cattle will also be quiet.
marlene weale
24 August 2009Born and brought up in rural area. Have always known danger of cattle.
Well known in countryside that cattle will often attack a dog, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE CALVES AT FOOT.
Therefore best advice is do not cross fields which have cattle grazing in them with a dog at any time, if you want to be safe.
Also, cattle are as unpredictable as any other animal and I have been chased by cattle several times when I have had no dog with me.
A country-born girl, I treat cattle with great respect and give them a wide berth when out walking.
Cross an adjacent field rather than enter the field cattle are in, is my advice.
I have been out with rambling groups who walk in a straight line and through cattle, gently chiding them to get out of the way. This is an imposition on the animals and also a silly thing to do from a safety point of view.
Finally, young cattle (both heifers and bullocks) are very playful and curious and their manner of play is to frolic and dance and barge into each other like puppies at play.
I am sure a lot of injuries or even deaths have also been caused by cattle who are not angry, simply playful!
Treat cattle with respect is my advice.
AG Musgrove
30 August 2009Marlene
You are being overly dramatic.
Just dont take any dogs into a paddock with cattle at any time.
Its plain dumb.
If you have been chased several times as you say then you were either not being sensible, or you were annoying them.
AG Musgrove
06 September 2009"Never let the facts get in the way of a good story."
The inquest into the unfortunate death of vet Ms Crowlsey determined she died of accidental causes.
She was NOT trampled to death as the breathless reporting of Mr McHale recorded as fact above.
Disappointing and poorly researched.
A clarifying report is needed.
Luke
06 September 2009The coroner himself stated this was a very rare incident, and is uncertain of the cause himself (albeit not crushing).
In all fairness, it's very hard to research a coroner's report that hadn't at the time been concluded, and harder still when no-one is fully aware of the circumstances.
However, for those interested, she unfortunately died from asphyxiation.
All the initial signs pointed towards trampling... all 823.
Ben Moore
06 September 2009Bit of bad taste to describe a report of a woman who unfortunately died of asphyxiation as "breathless" AG
O Wilde
08 September 2009it is a bit of a sore subject for me as I had a brush with the lovely herd of cows not so long ago, in June this year to be precise in the fields not far from Pevensey. No I didn't have a dog with me and I did "move quickly and quietly" treating cattle with respect they deserve just like HSE info sheet suggests as I found myself suddenly passing through 2 open fields full of cows, it was on 1066 walk, so sign-posted footpath all along and there was no other way to take to "walk around them". Not a pleasant experience let me tell you! As I walked to the end of the 1st field I turned to look back and saw that the whole herd is moving slowly in my direction, I increased my speed in the next field, so did they! I began moving even more quickly and what do you know, they were chasing after me but I won as I reached the fence, and no cow has learnt jump metal gates yet but it wasn't funny at the time, although I don't think they were visibly aggressive but still.... I am now seriously considering purchasing a walking stick or something
Anon
09 September 2009I'm often followed by cows through fields near my home. I always find a large stick and use that if they get to close. A loud shout and a wave of the arms will drive them back for a second or two. Running can be dangerous if you trip so I wouldn't recommend it.
To the earlier comments; a public right of way is just that regardless of whether it is a working farm or not. I don't use them as playgrounds, but I do walk them frequently.
I don't have a dog now, but many years ago I was walking a footpath when a farmer with cattle after seeing me and shouting, deliberately opened a gate and let his cows in which charged both me and my dog. Unfortunately I was only a young lad at the time so this was quite scary. If it happened now I think I would be quick to point out the error of his ways or taken action against him.
AG Musgrove
09 September 2009For heavens sake Anon, what's the point of your big stick?
It will and can only upset the cows - they are merely inquisitive and nosy. Squizzy!
What use will a stick be? - it won't hurt the cows it - can only disturb and frighten them them, and if that happens you will only have yourself to blame.
Try some common sense - maybe even some clear thinking.
Keep the cattle quiet, leave them alone and you will be fine.
Your story about having a farmer cows set his cows on you is just that .....a story.
O Wilde
10 September 2009Dear AG Musgrove
The point of a stick is just that, quoting you - a stick....for a slim may be but chance of self defence should one requires it, NOT to attack the animal or to hurt them. I am sure people including myself who shared their alarming experiences with the cattle are all regular people capable of common sense but cattle is not, and that is the whole point. The animal behaviour is irrational when they think they are being disturbed etc, and so they will react irrationally or rationally from their perspective but to the trampled person that is immaterial, I think walking with the friendly smile on my face wouldn't have made much difference in my situation, those cows behaved in the way that I found frightening and that all there is to it. I will get a stick next time, just that....How can anyone vouch for an animal, it always infuriates me when some dog owner will invariably say to excuse their dog unwanted attention that their dog "won't fetch you", how do they know??! What , they got written undertaking from their dog? Talking about common sense, let's all put that into practice including farmers who should also accept some responsibility
Craig H
10 September 2009I try to give them a wide berth but even so they nearly always come towards me.
I treat them as the dumb animals they are if they get too close and do what the farmer does, which is wave your arms and shout at them. It doesn't annoy them it just confuses them.
Never turn your back on them and always plan an escape route.
Anon
29 September 2009The point of the stick is to hold it out. Cows connect up 4 points to calculate size. The stick makes me appear much bigger and deters them.
Keeping quiet has nothing to do with it. When I enter a field with a large number of cattle, they come charging over as soon as they see me.
It wasn't a `story', just a list of events. Story to me suggests that I'm making it up, and I find it insulting.
AG Musgrove
01 October 2009Greetings Anon,
Please be assured I used the word 'story' carefully.
For mine you are simply making it up.
A farmer setting his cows on you simply beggars belief.
It is not a credible story.
Cows are proprietal - they are herd animals with deep seated animosity toward all dogs - they are naturally noisy and when you enter their paddock full of swagger shouting away and waving your stick what on earth do you expect?
Leave them alone, be quiet in noise and activity with them, keep out of their way, do not take a dog into the paddock, do not approach them under any circimstances without the farmer if there are calves about especially with your stick.
Please just use some common sense.
AG Musgrove
01 October 2009Apologies it should read "...naturally nosey..."
Anon
26 November 2009Musgrove you are IMO a troll. I'm surprised that the moderators have allowed you to contiue posting your tripe.
anon10
16 July 2012I have just been reading up on why cows charge at you, I have had 3 instances with cows and young bulls now in the last 12 months and most recent was yesterday.
We entered a field of cows with my partner, this field was on our route on a walk on a public right of way may I say – there were no calves, we didn’t have a dog and we walking around away from the herd so not to go near them, one of the biggest cows I have ever seen took a liking to me and started to come at me. I have never been so scared – my partner put himself in the middle of me and it and it started to stomp its foot and shake its head, my partner stood his ground but the bloody thing just kept walking forward and we had to walk with our backs away from the cow. In the end we had a whole heard follow us until we reached the end of the field which was a big one, these cows did not stop following us. The main culprit was so close to us I could feel it breath.
This was a public right of way on ordinance survey map, you are not able to tell from a map that cows are in certain fields – we had to go through the field in able to get back to where we started from, we did not provoke, spook, have a dog or do anything to attract the beast, it just did it so how can cows be allowed to roam on a public path when being chased by cows is becoming quite a common problem... I was terrified and I am young and able person, god knows if that had been my parents or if we would have any children with us. Something should be done to protect those who just want to enjoy the country side, these beasts should be kept away from the public especially when they have young