Farmer Kate Esler says the assaults are ‘irritating and disheartening’
- Author, Kelly Withers
- Role, BBC News
- Reporting from Kingston Seymour, Somerset
-
A farmer is looking on canine walkers to maintain their pets on leads within the countryside after six assaults on her flock.
Kate Esler, who farms in Kingston Seymour, North Somerset, has misplaced 14 sheep since December 2022.
“The accidents are horrific and it’s irritating and heart-breaking for us to see.”
Warning: This story comprises graphic photographs
Ms Esler says the assaults have an effect on the remainder of the flock and might trigger pregnant ewes to miscarry by stress.
Some of the injured sheep have been put down
She added: “The flock is all the time flighty after an attack and we have needed to rescue some sheep and lambs from rhynes (drainage ditches) as soon as the canine has gone.”
Kate Esler stated she doesn’t have video proof of the assaults, making it exhausting to prosecute canine homeowners.
“Lots of people acquired pets throughout lockdown and possibly didn’t do puppy coaching with them, so they aren’t conscious of the risks,” she stated.
Some of Kate Esler’s sheep have run into drainage ditches – generally known as rhines – to flee dogs
The National Sheep Association (NSA) says livestock worrying consists of attacking or chasing sheep and, in some circumstances, farmers are legally entitled to shoot dogs if they’re endangering their sheep.
It says it is important a canine homeowners retains the pet on a lead round livestock, even when they’ll normally belief it to come back to name.
Avon and Somerset Police stated they acquired a number of experiences of livestock worrying at the beginning of January.
Rural affairs officer, Sgt Katie Maun, stated: “Livestock worrying is a prison offence and will end in a big wonderful.”
The organisations are urging canine homeowners to behave responsibly when walking within the countryside.
