Lambing time has started and it’s now more important than ever to keep your dogs on a lead around livestock, or better still to avoid walking dogs in fields that have sheep. Even the sight of a strange dog during lambing time can cause stress to the ewes, causing pregnant ewes to miscarry or newly lambed sheep to be separated from their offspring.
Your canine companion may usually be obedient and well behaved but it’s every dog’s instinct to chase animals. The dogs of irresponsible owners have estimated to have killed or injured more than 15,000 sheep in 2016: a figure that is alarmingly rising year on year. The law allows farmers to shoot dogs found causing stress to livestock, but in reality it is not the dogs’ fault but that of the dog owners – unfortunately farmers are not allowed to shoot them!
While on the subject of dogs walking around farmland, it is also important to worm your pet regularly and pick up their droppings. Diseases transmitted to sheep and cattle through dog faeces can be fatal. It can also cause the meat of the animal to be condemned, making the animal worthless.
Finally if you are enjoying a walk around the countryside and see a sheep that appears to be sunbathing (see picture, right), they are actually likely to be stuck on their backs and need to be turned over ASAP before their stomach gases build up and make them die. Just roll them over, being careful of their flaying legs, and hopefully they will walk away. Occasionally they may stagger or fall over a few times similar to a drunk leaving the pub, but once they gather their bearings they will soon be right as rain until they find another way of trying to kill themselves!
Photos: Simon Wright and image library