Dog owners given shooting warning (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Dog owners given shooting warning

7:40am Thursday 7th January 2010 in

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A SHOCK tactic is being used against ‘irresponsible’ dog owners who allow their animals to kill or chase sheep on a Lake District fell.

Signs have been posted around Loughrigg Fell near Ambleside warning owners their pets could be shot if caught worrying livestock.

The tough line, being taken by the National Trust and local farmers, follows a sharp rise in the number of sheep being killed in the area.

Malcolm Murphy, of Tarn Foot, claimed dogs had killed 36 of his ewes and lambs this year while neighbouring farmer John Benson, of Skelwith Fold, estimated he had lost around half a dozen animals to out-of-control dogs during the summer.

Both say they do not want pets to be shot, but owners need to be made aware it was a real possibility.

A landowner has the legal right to shoot a dog if it is necessary to protect livestock, but he must report his action to the police within 48 hours.

One sheep farmer from the Loughrigg area, who did not want to be named, admitted he killed a red setter earlier this year after it began worrying his flock.

“It was very distressing for me having to do this as well as for members of the public who saw me do it, but it was necessary because the dog was attacking my animals,” he said.

Nationally, the number of sheep attacked by domestic dogs is in the thousands. Related insurance claims topped £1 million in 2008. NFU Mutual, the rural insurer, said it received 182 claims from farmers after stock had been injured or killed by out-of-control dogs that year – compared to 145 claims in 2007.

Mr Murphy said: “A lot of dog owners don’t understand what is required on a common that’s stocked.

“When I’ve challenged them about keeping their dogs under control they just say they have a right to roam.”

Mr Benson said: “Dogs often take a bite out of a sheep, leaving a gaping wound, which can become infected by maggots and lead to the death of the animal later.”

The Loughrigg Fell signs were put up by the National Trust, which owns land in the area, on behalf of Loughrigg Commoners, the graziers of the common. The signs state: “If your dog chases livestock, the farmer has the right to stop your dog (even by shooting).”

Jane Knowles, of High Borrow Bridge Farm, Selside, said: “Sheep worry-ing is now a huge problem.

“Farmers can’t insist dog owners keep their pets on a lead, only that they must be kept under control.

“Three years ago we found 11 of our sheep dead at Greystoke. A vet’s post mortem showed some had bite marks, but they probably died from stress after being chased. In this case we were able to trace the dog owner, who had the animal destroyed.”

An spokesman for the RSPCA urged dog owners to be responsible: “We are collaborating with the National Sheep Association and the National Farmers’ Union to distribute signs and posters throughout England and Wales asking dog owners to keep dogs on leads near livestock.”