Gloucestershire farmer has to put nine sheep down after dog attack
"He [Ms Wales' partner] was pulling one out of the brook and then he noticed the dog running loose in the fields," Ms Wales said."There was some trapped in brambles and the dog had then started chasing the group again across the farm."All of a sudden, he just disappeared and we didn't see him again."Ms Wales said nine sheep were too badly injured to be saved.She described the dog as the size of "a large Labrador" with a "big Rottweiler-type" head.
In a survey of 1,136 dog owners, NFU Mutual found that 57% let their dogs off the lead in the countryside but only 40% admitted their pet always came back when called.Jazz White, a farmer from the Forest of Dean Commoners Association, said lambs can "flip" inside ewes due to the stress involved in dog attacks."We have to rearrange them in order for that birth to go ahead properly, otherwise it can cause all sorts of other issues, and vets need to be called," she said."Please be respectful of all our flocks, free roaming or in the field."
'Top priority'
Priya Shukla, a dog trainer in the Forest of Dean, said recall should be a dog owner's "top priority".She said the number of dog owners lacking confidence in their dog's recall could be lower than the 40% suggested by NFU Mutual."People don't necessarily need to go to a group class or pay for training, there is a lot of content online," said Ms Shukla."It is work every day but then you should be willing to put that work into your dog."
Gloucestershire Police's rural crime team attended the incident in Blakeney and have reminded dog owners of their responsibility to keep pets on a lead around livestock.Officers asked anyone with information on the incident to get in touch.The team said it had been investigating several other reports of livestock worrying in the Forest of Dean, at locations including Popes Hill and Tibberton.
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Under-performance of boys at GCSE level ‘should be a matter of national concern' professor says
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The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
I was struck by collapsing metal fence at UK beach amusement park – all I could hear was children screaming
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Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Dog 'let down at last minute' still waiting for home after heartbreaking reason
Romilly, a two-year-old black Labrador, is a "gorgeous" and "super friendly" dog who has sadly been "let down at the last minute" by her potential adopter and rescuers worry she'll be "overlooked" for a sad reason A "super friendly", "gorgeous" black Labrador due to be adopted was "let down at the last minute" so now she's waiting for her forever home all over again. Rescuers fear she'll be "overlooked" due to a heartbreaking reason. Countless dogs are awaiting adoption in kennels and shelters, with some spending years without the love of a family of their own. Sadly, many animals find themselves waiting much longer than others due to reasons completely beyond their control. Often, it can come down to something as straightforward as the colour of their coat, with black dogs frequently "overlooked" because of superstitions surrounding them. There's a phenomenon known as 'black dog syndrome' which sees lower adoption rates for black dogs, often linked to cultural superstitions, as well as issues like perceived difficulties in photographing their dark coats, and challenges in reading their facial expressions. Some larger dog breeds often unfairly labelled as aggressive - such as Rottweilers and Dobermans - have dark coats which can feed into the negative associations with black dogs. Romilly, a two-year-old black Labrador, was waiting to go to her forever home when the potential adopter had to pull out "at the last minute due to work commitments". Now, she's waiting all over again in the hopes of being adopted. Wags N' Wet Noses Dog Rescue is a UK-based, voluntary dog rescue organisation "run by a dedicated group of unpaid women", devoted to rehoming dogs "from across the EU and Balkans", including countries like Greece, Romania, Serbia, and Spain. Recently, the non-profit cooperative shared news of the two-year-old Labrador, whom they named Romilly and was saved from a kill shelter. Kill shelters put down animals who aren't adopted or claimed within a certain timeframe. Fortunately, Romilly was saved by Wags but then abandoned by her prospective owner and is still waiting to be rehomed. She's described as the "happiest, waggiest-tailed sweetheart you could ever hope to meet" and a "typical Labrador". Romilly is "food-driven and eager to please" which makes her "easy to train". She's also said to adore "attention, people, and children" and "plays beautifully with all the dogs in the shelter". Despite her difficult start in the kill shelter, Romilly boasts a "forgiving nature and zest for life". Still, the "sweet" and loving dog is "eagerly waiting for her forever home". Wags added: "Sadly, black dogs, even Labradors, are often overlooked. We hope this won't be the case for Romilly, who deserves all the love and happiness in the world. "If you're looking for a loyal and loving companion to share life's journey, look no further. Romilly will be by your side, gazing up at you with gratitude and wonderment." The Wags team shared Romilly's story on their Facebook page and, in the comments section, one person said: "Look at her eyes. She's beautiful." Dogs are a massive lifestyle commitment. They require constant love, attention and care.
