The photo shows the children’s ‘show sheep’ Izzy and Whizzy who live next to Hursey Common. The farmers who own the field next to Hursey Common this morning witnessed a dog worrying their sheep.
The farmer gave chase and after a lot of running, saw it off back into the football field. He met with the owners who apologised but appeared to the farmer to be totally unconcerned.
They are unaware if this is happening on a regular basis as they are only up there once a day to check them but are now very concerned.
They are aware people use the football field as a place to run their dogs but dogs still need to be kept under control.
The children would be absolutely devastated if anything happened to them.
Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, if a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence. The Act considers sheep worrying to include: attacking sheep. chasing them in a way that may cause injury, suffering, abortion or loss of produce.
The farmers thank you for your attention.
