Pregnant ewes can abort their lambs if worried by dogs
National park bosses have pleaded with dog owners to keep their pets under control after sheep were attacked and injured.
Police are investigating an incident in which breeding ewes were savaged in fields near Bowness-on-Windermere.
Lake District National Park Authority ranger Steve Tatlock said: “Police are asking for information and in turn we are appealing to dog owners to take special care of their pets near sheep.
“Most walkers are sensitive to the needs of wildlife when out with their dogs, but the thoughtless minority can and do cause havoc.
“This is a very sensitive and important time. A dog chasing lambing sheep can cause them to abort and, in the worst cases, kill the ewe.
“Farmers have reported some sickening cases over the years and ultimately they have a defence for shooting dogs in the protection of their animals. This is obviously a last resort, but sometimes they have no other choice.
“Obviously, we are early in the season, but that doesn’t stop horrific injuries from out of control dogs, as we’ve already seen.
“Lambing time coincides with ground nesting birds producing their offspring, which are also at great risk from attack.
“Species such as curlew, lapwing, snipe and grouse have nests disturbed by dogs and their chicks scattered. And once away from the nest, their chances of survival plummet. We’ve seen a worrying decline in numbers and must do all we can to protect them.”
The authority said, by law, canines must be controlled so that they do not scare or disturb livestock or wildlife. On open access land they have to be kept on short leads from 1 March to 31 July – and all year round near sheep.
Close supervision is also required on public rights of way.
Mr Tatlock said: “We want as many people as possible to enjoy our magnificent countryside. We just ask that a close eye is kept on dogs at such an important time for our animals and wildlife.
“Police are asking for any information on the Bowness incident to be reported on their 101 number, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Tucker 210
06 February 2014Dogs are a pest and a pain on the fells. Try to say anything about their behaviour and they owners will defend their 'little babies' to the hilt. Over the years I've seen numerous cases of out of control dogs tearing around, and it's getting worse as owners are getting less responsible.
Dave
06 February 2014The "Dog lobby is very powerfull. Owners react very defensively, and some aggressively,to any comment about control, or lack of from non dog owners.
..and don't get me started on the harvest of plastic bags containing poo that are scattered on trees and bushes at the access point to most footpaths.
Not sure what can be done about it...?
Fred Scuttle
06 February 2014Indeed.... Bags of dog poo everywhere.... Should string these dog owners up with the bags!
Ridgegripper
06 February 2014Oh do give it a rest you Nimby's !!
Whilst i do not condone the actions of an irresponsible minority, to promote the other side of the argument, some of us are very responsible dog owners & i personally have had more than one run-in with over-zealous "get 'orf moi land" sheep farmers....
Bazza
06 February 2014"Dogs are a pest and a pain on the fells..."
Duh!! Let's not forget the lives saved & people helped by mountain rescue team dogs....or has this passed you by "Tucker 210"??
Fred Scuttle
06 February 2014It makes me wonder why you are having run in's with sheep farmer's then?..... It's ' not rocket surgery why sheep farmer's are protective of their stock really is it... Probably because the same shite bag flinging category of dog owners are usually the one's also letting their 'little babies' run around fields full of ewes, off the lead, out of control, chasing sheep and wondering what they are doing wrong.... If anything.... See it all the time.... If sheep farming was your way of earning a living I'm sure you'd have a different outlook completely.... The vast majority of dog owners are usually responsible around livestock but there are some that just don't get it about the countryside, and sadly you seem to fall into the latter category..... Enough said...
Dave
07 February 2014I think Ridgegripper proves my point about a defensive response….
by the way a very from rant Fred
Ridgegripper
07 February 2014Errr...thanx for your wise & educated comments, but did i state my dog was OFF the lead at the time....?
I happen to live in the countryside my friend and am not a 'townie' as you perhaps imply?
...perhaps as your tag name suggests you need to 'scuttle' back where you came from and stop making sweeping generalisations about dog owners
(....& its "rocket science" by the way)
Sirstones
07 February 2014I am a dog owner, in fact i'm a dog owner living in Bowness where the incident occurred. I have a large, very fit Black Lab, infact a working gun dog on occasion. He has never been interested in sheep and i have good relationship with my local farmer, but not every farmer know who the good dogs are. So is it right that I am now pigeon holed along with all the irresponsible idiots that thought owning a dog was a good idea at the time...!!
What makes me concerned is that people who do not live in the area bring their dogs into the area and because of the big open spaces allow their dogs to run wild... if you haven't got the space for a dog at home, don't have a dog..!
But its this that gives dog owners a bad name... i often come across walkers who frown at me, implying 'get your dog on a lead'... WHY? its my dog, i know him well is attitude is outstanding, he is free to rome as long as its not far... you can't not label all owners of dogs the same... and i will defend both my dog and my actions if challenged.
Unless they drop bags of dog Poo everywhere... as a dog owner it frustrates the hell out of me, take the stuff home with you. If you have to put it in a bag that won't degrade, ever, don't leave it lying about...
Rumpert
07 February 2014You don't notice the responsible owners with well behaved dogs, but Sirstones is correct when he says 'what makes me concerned is that people who do not live in the area bring their dogs into the area and because of the big open spaces allow their dogs to run wild'.
Holiday makers and visitors to the fells are the problem, I've even seen some laughing when incidents happen, thinking it hilarious.
It's the same type who go up the fells woefully unprepared and phone for rescue, with no thought that they're putting people out, etc.
It's a reflection of how parts of society have become.
Fred Scuttle (a well known Benny Hill character used as net pseudonym)
07 February 2014Ridgeripperw, I didn't say you let your dog run wildly around... I said you probably fell into the latter category of people that just don't get it about the countryside... Also, rocket surgery is a term often used jokingly to merge brain surgery and rocket science together in a jovial sense but sadly you didn't seem to get that either.... Doh! Why don't you just quit before making an even bigger public prick of yourself than you already ? And remember don't start giving others on here grief by labelling people nimbys if you're not prepared for the response.....
Fred Scuttle
08 February 2014Sorry Ridgegripper, you didn't really deserve my rant. My comments probably sounded worse than they should have in the overall spirit of things :-(
.... Having said that, the dog shit bags in trees, and sheep being chased by ignorant dog owners really do need addressing which is something we probably all agree on.....
Kind regards,
Fred Scuttle (not my real name so can't scuttle off under a rock lol!)
sandra
13 February 2014Farmers use dogs to chase sheep around all the time. They do naff all to harm sheep. It is just a gerrof my lanx excuse.
Jon
25 February 2014Sandra, I take it you haven't seen sheep drowned in a tarn after being chased in by someone's pet dog, or a sheep with her ear torn by the same dog? The owner was out of sight and oblivious to the harm her wee doggie was causing.