 |
"Keep Dogs Under Control or I'll Shoot" |
 |
| Angry
Farmer's
Warning to Thoughtless Pet Owners |
After a ewe
was
mauled by two hounds on the land on George V Avenue, a Pinner farmer
has
issued a warning to dog owners stating that their beloved pets could be
shot
if they run amok on his land.
Peter Gurney, who had previously managed Pinner Park Farm and is now stockman there, is disgusted after dog walkers stormed through the farm two weeks ago and sat by and watched as their dogs killed a ewe.
He said:
"This total disregard to all the signs about dogs being on leads and under control will lead to someone's cherished dog being shot - as is our right. The owners of animals should be reminded that in fields or on footpaths they could be prosecuted for neglect in their duty of controlling their pets."
Hall and Son who own the farm have spent hundreds of pounds on signs following Harrow Council advice and Mr Gurney is upset that people still continue to ignore them.
Mr Gurney stated that:
"While we want people to enjoy the farm they seem to think its theirs and they need to remember it is a business. We have put up numerous signs, barbed wire fences and are even looking at electrified fences now - its absolute lunacy. We put up signs saying don't feed the animals yet we see people feeding the ponies Polos and all sorts - they don't realise the damage this does to these animals. We've had kids running around in the field with bulls and now this - its ridiculous and people should use their common sense."
There has not been any sheep and ewes on Pinner Park Farm since 2000 and it is only recently that it was decided to bring them on to the land on George V Avenue, Pinner. Following the killing of the ewe in August Mr Gurney says they will have to think carefully about buying more in the future. He said:
"This ewe was just one of 12 on the entire farm and at £300 each its death is a big blow. People need to take responsibility for their animals because this farm is not a playground and it is not a park."
source www.harrowobserver.co.uk
Peter Gurney, who had previously managed Pinner Park Farm and is now stockman there, is disgusted after dog walkers stormed through the farm two weeks ago and sat by and watched as their dogs killed a ewe.
He said:
"This total disregard to all the signs about dogs being on leads and under control will lead to someone's cherished dog being shot - as is our right. The owners of animals should be reminded that in fields or on footpaths they could be prosecuted for neglect in their duty of controlling their pets."
Hall and Son who own the farm have spent hundreds of pounds on signs following Harrow Council advice and Mr Gurney is upset that people still continue to ignore them.
Mr Gurney stated that:
"While we want people to enjoy the farm they seem to think its theirs and they need to remember it is a business. We have put up numerous signs, barbed wire fences and are even looking at electrified fences now - its absolute lunacy. We put up signs saying don't feed the animals yet we see people feeding the ponies Polos and all sorts - they don't realise the damage this does to these animals. We've had kids running around in the field with bulls and now this - its ridiculous and people should use their common sense."
There has not been any sheep and ewes on Pinner Park Farm since 2000 and it is only recently that it was decided to bring them on to the land on George V Avenue, Pinner. Following the killing of the ewe in August Mr Gurney says they will have to think carefully about buying more in the future. He said:
"This ewe was just one of 12 on the entire farm and at £300 each its death is a big blow. People need to take responsibility for their animals because this farm is not a playground and it is not a park."
source www.harrowobserver.co.uk
**********************
A solicitor who specialises in country sports law
Sheep - Worrying Dogs
David Barrington BarnesA solicitor who specialises in country sports law
Q. My sheep have recently been
twice attacked by a dog and several injured. What is the legal
position regarding shooting a dog under these circumstances?
A. First, thouigh the owner of a dog worrying sheep is committing a criminal offence, the law creating this offence does not empower the farmer to shoot the dog. These days a farmer who shoots someones marauding dog is quite likely to be charged with criminal damage. If he is, then his defence will be likely to show he has reasonable excuse as he was protecting his sheep, which are his property. The farmer would have a similar defence to a civil action taken against him for shooting an offending dog. He would also need to have notified the police within 48 hours of the shooting.
As to using a rifle to shoot a dog, it must be appreciated that a dog is not vermin, as vermin is, by definition, wild. Therefore, a rifle conditioned only for the shooting of vermin or pests would not be conditioned to shoot a dog, unless the certificate had printed on it (as some do) an additional condition authorising the holder to use the rifle 'for the shooting of animals for the protection of other animals.'
A. First, thouigh the owner of a dog worrying sheep is committing a criminal offence, the law creating this offence does not empower the farmer to shoot the dog. These days a farmer who shoots someones marauding dog is quite likely to be charged with criminal damage. If he is, then his defence will be likely to show he has reasonable excuse as he was protecting his sheep, which are his property. The farmer would have a similar defence to a civil action taken against him for shooting an offending dog. He would also need to have notified the police within 48 hours of the shooting.
As to using a rifle to shoot a dog, it must be appreciated that a dog is not vermin, as vermin is, by definition, wild. Therefore, a rifle conditioned only for the shooting of vermin or pests would not be conditioned to shoot a dog, unless the certificate had printed on it (as some do) an additional condition authorising the holder to use the rifle 'for the shooting of animals for the protection of other animals.'
reprinted with kind permission from
Alastair Balmain
Deputy Editor:Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street SE1 0SU
Tel: 020 3148 4750
Deputy Editor:Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street SE1 0SU
Tel: 020 3148 4750