An appeal has been issued by a member of the public after they witnessed several sheep and lambs being chased by dogs near Quarr this morning (Saturday).
During the incident, it’s said that a mother sheep was left lying on its back as one of the 2 small dogs – apparently owned by 2 nearby women – chased its lamb.
Alongside the obvious distress and danger posed by the chasing of the sheep by the dogs, a sheep left on its back can suffer from suffocation due to the inability for them to right themselves and the build up of fermented gases in their stomachs putting pressure on their lungs.
The member of the public who witnessed the attack entered the field containing the sheep to assist them and prevent any further attack from taking place.
It comes after stark warnings from the Country, Land and Business Association about the expected rise in dog attacks as more and more people head to the countryside to exercise their pets.
The CLA, which represents thousands of farmers and rural businesses across the Isle of Wight, recommends dog walkers take the following action:
- Ensure your dog is under control; keep your dog on a lead and only let go if you are chased by livestock
- Never let your dog worry or chase wildlife or livestock. Follow advice on local signs to reduce disturbance to plants and animals
- Prevent your dog from approaching horse riders, cyclists, or other people and their dogs uninvited
- Keep your dog with you on paths or access land and don’t let it stray into crops including fields of grass, fruit and vegetables
- Never leave bags of dog poo lying around, even if you intend to pick them up later. Containers and deodorised bags can make them easier to carry
- Ensure your details are on your dog’s collar and it is microchipped, so you can be reunited quickly if it is lost
Owners are also urged to remember that livestock worrying is an offence, and that in some circumstances, farmers are legally permitted to shoot dogs who are seen worrying or attacking livestock as a last resort.
Quarr Abbey used to be for decent people to visit, now, due to lockdown, it has become just a free place for the less desirable to go with ill behaved children and pets.
Perhaps when Mc Donalds allow such inside and the children can play on the beach it will hopefully return to better people as it used to have there.
As someone who works at the Abbey, your remarks are from accurate. Yes, more people are then than previously, but describe less desirable? Someone who judges others perhaps?
Unfortunately we have no laws to provent irisponsible ignorant lowlife from owning dogs, some will use dogs as a weapon, and some will abuse there dogs…scumbags come to mind….
Where does it suggest that the dogs belonged to lowlifes? I agree these dogs should have been under control and I certainly don’t support lowlifes but don’t just assume who the owners are. So called decent people can’t control their dogs either
I wouldn`t want to see it but if a farmer shot a dog chasing his flock it might send out a message to dog owners.
Don’t shoot the dogs, shoot the f’in owners!!!! ( PS, to lucky Phil, I was only jessing,lol,)
What is wrong with people? Warning after warning about keeping your dog on A LEAD AROUND LIVESTOCK. These people are just plain thick or just don’t care. Wise up people. You can’t teach STUPID.
Why don’t these idiots realise that untrained dogs are likely to be predators given the chance? Poor lamb and mother sheep, shocking.
Why are the sheep and lambs there in the first place? They should be on a farm or something!!!
Are you being serious?
I cannot believe I’ve just read this….!
What I am trying to say is ‘would you like wild animals and cattle walking all over your gran parents graves’ I think not! Cattle and sheep should not be in public parks and cemetery’s, full stop!
Do you actually know what, and where, Quarr Abbey actually is?
The Bretheren that reside there have raised livestock and farmed their lands for centuries!
I can assure you that “no-one’s GRANDPARENTS will have their graves walked on by wild animals, as the only people interred there are the remains of the Bretheren who have passed.
Quarr Abbey is firstly, NOT a public park, and secondly, is most certainly NOT a cemetery….
Of course I know where it is,I go past it on the top deck of a bus most days,I have never been in the park bit as it looks a bit boring but the church looks big,if they want more tourist maybe install some swings at least,if I owned it,I would build an assult course,and even a petting zoo for the baby sheep, as of the brethren,? What are they all about, are they all dead now then? Are they Catholics or some other cult, thanks geez x
Why were the dogs being walked in the Abbey grounds? Why didn’t the owners go to the help of the sheep and why were they off the leads with sheep around?
We had a farm next to us some years ago and dogs were attacking his sheep so he put notices on every gate and the next week shot 2 dogs, problem solved and no repeats during the time we lived there.