A Cumbrian sheep farmer took drastic action to highlight the futility of sheep worrying by hanging a dead lamb from his farm gate.
Tenant farmer James Taylor says he has tried everything to raise awareness with dog owners about the devastating consequences of livestock worrying, including putting up about a dozen signs in the past two years.
On Sunday 1 May, the farmer discovered the carcass of a mule lamb lying dead in a 14ha field in Kendal after it had been mauled to death by an unknown dog.
See also: What to do if you’re a victim of… sheep worrying
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW
Mr Taylor told Farmers Weekly he remembers lambing the newborn and “it died about 20 yards from where it was born three weeks ago”.
Two public footpaths bisect the field where the lamb was found, and are used by about 60 dog walkers each day.
No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, which has been reported to Cumbria Police.
“I have put up about a dozen signs over the past couple of years, urging dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead near livestock,” said Mr Taylor.
“The wording on the signs has got progressively stronger as people still ignore them.
“This lamb was killed just a few yards from a sign which said: ‘Dogs caught sheep worrying will be shot on site.’
© James Taylor
‘Mauled to pieces’
“The lamb has been mauled to pieces. When I saw it, I felt hot-headed and I tied it up to the gate as a last resort, with a sign saying: ‘This is what sheep worrying looks like. Dogs caught will be shot immediately!’”
Mr Taylor has posted photos of the dead lamb hanging from the gate on Facebook. He said he expected a social media backlash, but this has not happened.
“There wasn’t any criticism. I have mainly had support from people,” he said. “It’s such as shame it has had to come to this to highlight sheep worrying.”
The lamb was removed from the gate 24 hours later and taken away by the Northern Fallen Stock Company.
Mr Taylor said he hoped the incident would make dog owners think twice about their behaviour when they visit the countryside.
“I have heard it 100 times from owners, ‘My dog would never do a thing like that’. But a dog’s natural instinct is to chase sheep when let loose in a field.”
Mr Taylor has lost three sheep to dog attacks in the two years since he has managed the farm.
But he believes he has lost many more through ewes aborting their lambs after being chased by dogs.
“As soon as someone lets a dog run loose around sheep, you lose thousands of pounds through abortions,” he said.
“The knock-on effect to the business is more, as that sheep could potentially have been carrying a show-quality lamb.”
‘Keep dogs on a lead’
Mr Taylor urged all dog owners to behave responsibly in the countryside and always keep pets on a lead, especially near livestock.
Sarah Kitching, senior group secretary at NFU Kendal, said: “Sadly, we are seeing an increasing number of incidents in the area having devastating consequences for our farmers.
“It’s not just the financial loss, it’s distressing to see such avoidable suffering.
“We want people to be able to enjoy the countryside, but they need to be educated on walking dogs through livestock, especially during key times of the year such as lambing and calving.”
NFU event to educate dog owners about livestock worrying
The NFU is hosting a joint event with dog trainer Claudia Atkinson, of Claudia’s Canine Coaching, to raise public awareness about the livestock worrying.
The event, which is being held on 24 May at Kitridding Farm Shop and Café in Lupton, Cumbria, is aimed at dog owners to educate them and provide guidance around the subject.
Local farmer Richard Pedley will be on hand to talk about his experiences and how issues can be avoided, while Ms Atkinson will discuss dog behaviours and training needs.
For more information, email Sarah Kitching at NFU Kendal.
