Man, 70, and pet canine are practically trampled to loss of life by herd of cows as farmer handed nice

A farmer has been fined after a retiree and his dog had been practically trampled to loss of life by cows on a public footpath.

Retired chartered surveyor Patrick Atherton, 70, and his 13-year-old Border Collie ‘Lad’ had been knocked to the bottom by seven cows whereas walking in June final 12 months. They had been solely saved when somebody – believed to be the farmer – waved the cows away, leaving Patrick with cuts and bruises in what might have been a deadly attack.

Sadly, Patrick’s canine Lad suffered critical accidents within the incident after being repeatedly kicked and stamped on by the cows – which on common weigh practically 700kg. Patrick, initially from The Wirral, Merseyside, says that he thought he was going to die in the course of the attack at Birdcage Farm, in Ottery Saint Mary, Devon.

He stated: “I’ve been a coach of Border Collies for a lot of years. It was ironic that for the primary time I had stored Lad on his lead as I had observed two young calves within the discipline and thought if he was walking by my aspect they wouldn’t actually discover.

“Unfortunately, one black cow did and it charged at us, knocking me down by the hedge that bordered the trail. I attempted to face up and let Lad off his lead however they stored on knocking me over. There was about seven cows concerned, but it surely was the very aggressive black cow that was making an attempt to kill my canine. I believed we had been going to die. I had been powerless to do something.”

Throughout the traumatic ordeal, Patrick additionally was compelled to hearken to Lad shrieking from ache as he was attacked by the animals. Thankfully the collie survived his accidents – however needed to be medicated for the remainder of his life, and was by no means the identical.

Patrick added: “We had been each surrounded by cattle. I might hear Lad shrieking in ache as he was repeatedly kicked and stamped on. He was by no means the identical canine after what occurred and he sadly handed away in September this 12 months.

“I just want to make other people aware of the risks when out enjoying popular footpaths such as this one.” The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation following the incident discovered that cattle with young calves had been being stored in a discipline with a public proper of means throughout it.

Cattle with calves are recognized to be protecting and will be aggressive to walkers, particularly to these with dogs. Between 2018 and 2022, greater than 30 folks had been killed by cows in related incidents – whereas others have been left with life-changing accidents.

Due to those risks, farmers are inspired to cull any aggressive animals or keep away from placing the animals in fields with public access. Public entrances to fields containing doubtlessly harmful cattle, stating clearly whether or not there are cows with calves or bulls within the discipline.

Farmer John Hallett, who owns Birdcage Farm, later plead responsible to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health & Safety at Work and many others Act 1974. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay prices of £4,500 at Exeter Magistrates’ Court.

HSE inspector Simon Jones stated: “It is lucky that the accidents sustained by Mr Atherton weren’t life-threatening. However given the character of the attack the top end result might have been far worse. Public data – and concern – is growing about how harmful cattle will be. On this event, Mr Atherton took the appropriate precautions and HSE has taken motion in opposition to the farmer in query.

“Cattle are extremely protective of their calves and even calm cattle can become aggressive if they think the calves may, in any way, be threatened, even by members of the public walking past. Farmers should not place cattle with calves in fields where members of the public have a legal right to walk. Had John Hallett followed this simple rule, then this incident could have been prevented.”