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Mike fae Dundee mountainbolx.com wrote (see)

I wouldn't have walked through a field of livestock if i had a dog with me.

The voice of reason

Why not have a sign saying ` Sorry no dogs' at the entrance to a field with livestock in it.

even that wouldn't work. the recent sad death of a vet with her dogs is testament to it.

or a sign which is even better - dogs WILL be shot.

Er......................................... usually it is to get from A to B, the same as anyone else!

mick dray wrote (see)

It's a no brainer to me Parky, i can't think of any reason why somebody has to take dogs into a field with livestock in it.

to walk their dogs mick.where i live the local hills are a nature reserve owned by the council but they let the local farmer use the fields for his cows to graze.they were originally left to the people of stratford by the chap who owned them in the 1890s.

i have been chased from the fields by the cows on several occasions,sometimes with my dog and other times without.i always keep my dog on the lead.we have been 100s of feet away from the cows before and they still chase us.

You said it Ray. to walk thier dogs.

There's nowhere else you can walk your dogs.

I am lucky living where I do, I can avoid the conflict fairly easily wth regards to enclosed fields, (not so much with open common land) but other dog walkers are no so fortunate.

I can think of some friends living in prime dairy country who have no alternative at times.

If anything, farmers MUST considerer the consequences of where they graze their animals and anywhere that has a ProW running through it should be avoided if possible at "dangerous" times.

Even farmers MUST adhere to a social conscience at times!

getting from a to b. jumping a red light does that but isn't recommended.

you mean walking your dog where you want to walk it rather than walking the dog.

however, you are aware of the risks of taking a predator near to prey animals, especially those with babies. therefore, any consequences are solely yours.

would you take your dog into a field with horses and foals?

Funny you should say that Parky, these photos are from my walk Wednesday, admittedly they were on common land not an enclosed field, but we had to go right through the middle of them, with the dogs called to close heal, they hardly took any notice of us!

I should also point out that there were around 30 of them, not just these I photographed!

mick dray wrote (see)

Would you agree that at dangerous times it would be perfectly reasonable for the farmer to put up a sign saying `sorry no dogs, calves in the field' or something similar.

Yes, but in the case of a ProW, not if he has a viable sociable alternative, forget dogs, it might be children who just don't understand the dangers.

Some landowners have been know to deliberately graze animals with intent to prevent access too!

Anything that makes them think and act as socially responsibly as the rest of us HAS to be a good thing!

it's not unreasonable for a sign to be put up as it's not unreasonable not to take dogs near cows, especially with calf.

virtually all attacks on members of the public involve dogs i believe so i think using the emotional blackmail of children doesn't wash.

children might not understand the signs. correct. so who is going to teach them the dangers? unacoompanied children who visit the countryside or parents who live there? why abrogate responsibility. anyone brought up without an awareness that animals, despite their cute anthropomorphism, can be dangerous is the fault of whom? farmers? teachers? media? or possibly controversially, parents/guardians. it's not the animals fault. it certainly can't be your fault so let's be a victim of our own stupidity, ignorance self-righteous indignation and blame someone else. it's sp much more statisfying that admitting you cocked up

like all cases involving cows we know nothing of events beforehand. and anyway, what upsets a cow? smiling? breathing?

nice pics tony. how about a field with the big, what are you looking at type of stables horses. i never go near the buggers if i can help it.scare the hell out of me. and if all dogs were properly trained like yours...

is a horse scared of a dog? i dunno. i'm led to believe that horses live in a constant state of extreme jitteriness.

"Anything that makes them think and act as socially responsibly as the rest of us HAS to be a good thing!" i agree totally tony but that works both ways. no dogs near babies.

lol to myself. just remembered. on the way to box hill. farmer had just let his cows out into a field. a donkey was in one of them. a cow took great exception to the donkey and chased it everywhere.  poor donkey couldn't escape.

sorry simon. i should shut the hell up.

All I am asking for is fairness which the judge in this individual case seems to have arrived at.

Farmers are probably some of the most responsible members in society in general, but like all walks of life, there are exceptions, maybe this will make the minority of bad ones think about THEIR responsibilities to the public going about their lawful pursuits too. It is not ALL one sided.

"getting from a to b. jumping a red light does that but isn't recommended"

Yes, and it isn't legal either. Walking along a PROW through a field of cows, IS legal.

"you mean walking your dog where you want to walk it rather than walking the dog."

 Not sure what the point is?  If I want to walk, with my dog, along a public right of way, what's the issue?

"you are aware of the risks of taking a predator near to prey animals"

I'd love to know the details of the last time a dog preyed on a cow - and yes, I appreciate that the cows see a dog as a danger, but...  How do all these herds of cows survive the night when there are so many vicious foxes prowling the countryside...

I appreciate the point you are probably trying to make, and everybody needs to show some common sense, but...

If I've planned a long, legitimate and legal walk, and taken my dog with me, what am I supposed to do when, on the return leg I find that the only right of way is through a field in which there's a herd of cows?  Take a 6-mile detour?  I will go through with my dog.  If trouble occurs (it hasn't yet) I'll take appropriate steps to ensure my own safety, followed by the safety of my dog (the safety of the cows will not be a consideration to me at that time).

The farmer will know there's a right of way through that field.  And I'll wonder to myself (as I often have) why the farmer has chosen that particular field to fence in his cows, rather than the other identical (but empty) adjacent fields, through which no right of way passes... And I'll wonder why the cows are NEVER in those other adjacent, empty fields, but always in the one through which a right of way passes...

Just as I wonder at the ridiculous signs I've seen in my time, placed by farmers at the point where a right of way enters their land - the most notable of which was in Wiltshire: "DANGER - POISONOUS SNAKES!" (I have a photo of that sign somewhere) - what are they there for, if not as a pathetic attempt to discourage access?

Not sure what the point is? If i want to walk, with my dog., along a public right of way, whats the issue?

Pay attention Michael, the issue is cows.

Parkys point is that YOU are making the decisions, YOU are deciding on the route that MAY take you into conflict with cows.

I'm for a sign at the farmers descression saying `No dogs. Calves in the field'