Old Farmers

Dyr · 23-03-2009 10:21PM

convert wrote: »

And I'd report the dog for threatening sheep...

Apparently it didn't so that would be somewhat illegal, but classic bogsavage mentality all the same.

i71jskz5xu42pb · 23-03-2009 10:31PM

Upward Spiral wrote: »

IOn my way along the lane I met a farmer who'd been out shaving sheep

<snip>

Should I walk on the lane again to see if he was bluffing?

I'd say I walk on the lane again to see to see if you could get some footage of him shaving the sheep. I can just see them in the reclining chair getting foamed up, crazy farmer ready with the cut throat. "What'll it be today sir?"

There's a mutton chop pun in there somewhere waiting to get out ...

Blush_01 · 23-03-2009 11:56PM

Honey-ec wrote: »

I don't care how many lambs he's lost, he had no business speaking to the OP in that manner. A polite "this is private property and I'd appreciate it if you didn't walk your dog on it" was all that was required.

... if it was the first hundred or so times it happened. Just because the OP had never met the farmer before doesn't mean the farmer hadn't met plenty of people walking leashed and unleashed dogs on the same lane numerous times.

The damage an innocently (or not so innocently) opened gate can cause can be huge. Injured animals, car accidents, and huge bills. (Not to mention interrupted sleep patterns.)

Ignorance might be bliss for you, but not necessarily for the farmer involved.

24-03-2009 12:04AM

Bambi wrote: »

but classic bogsavage mentality all the same.

Classic clueless townie comment.

mikemac · 24-03-2009 12:17AM

From a sheep farming myself :pac:
OP, you shear a sheep, you don't shave it

OP, the key point to your post was your dog was leashed. If something happened and this went to the District Court that might save you.
And remember if a sheep is killed by your dog the farmer has to pay for a visit from a vet to verify this. So if you reckon farmers launch court cases on zero prooof think again. They are out of pocket long before the case begins.

You own a collie, it's their nature to run and chase. Possibly a harmless dog but chasing ewes in lamb causes abortions and possibly horrific injuries so chasing is just as unacceptable as your collie ripping throats.

You cannot wander around country lanes! This is lambing season so farmers are even more worried then ever. This time every year the local Parish Priest warns everyone about dogs in Mass. It's that much of an issue in a rural area.

If your dog was off a leash and strayed into a field it could have been shot and the local garda would lol in your face if you complained.

So cop yourself on and if you want to walk on somebody's land have the respect to ask permission. And do not be suprised if you get roared at for bringing a dog during lambing season.
If anything happens you will be paying compensation

raah! · 24-03-2009 12:18AM

Psssh, you can just be friendly with him and ask him if you can walk about on his land. Well it's too late now. But it seems unlikely that "Old Farmers" would have the same worries about "liability" that other people (money grubbing scummy filth business lawyers) would.

Another option is to go there again, but run away if you see him. Quoting laws in such a situation seems a bit silly to me, you're only walking about.

Although, speaking of tricksey country folk, a friend who moved into a countryside area recently, had some neighbours who were up to those sort of sneaky city knacker style legal proceedings, but even worse. They would lure their dogs over to their house, and then kill their own sheep, and then they tried to sue the fellow. Can't remember the other details. But those insurance lawyers are ruining the world.

Honey-ec · 24-03-2009 12:30AM

mikemac wrote: »

This time every year the local Parish Priest warns everyone about dogs in Mass. It's that much of an issue in a rural area.

Pfft, who goes to mass???

Gummy Panda · 24-03-2009 01:06AM

OP chase after his sheep waving your arms like a mad man for abortion fun.

doctor evil · 24-03-2009 01:06AM

Upward Spiral wrote: »

roaming laws

Don't have those here, Thank God.

ayapatrick · 24-03-2009 01:19AM

Lu Tze wrote: »

I can confirm boondoon is also the nomenclature used in kerry west...

For those interested in the treatment of such (and those with a sick twisted curiousity), the correct product can be found here

http://www.lambertvetsupply.com/Prolapse-Retainer-Ewe--pr--070JRJ26E

from what i hear from people around, that instrument is kinda hard to use? seen it done stitched with balin twine tho!:P

ayapatrick · 24-03-2009 01:23AM

Bambi wrote: »

Apparently it didn't so that would be somewhat illegal, but classic bogsavage mentality all the same.

but prevention is better than cure? is it not? i take you dont have to high of an opinion on farmers?:p

Honey-ec · 24-03-2009 01:35AM

ayapatrick wrote: »

but prevention is better than cure? is it not? i take you dont have to high of an opinion on farmers?:p

Not if the prevention entails threatening to shoot every dog you come across.

I think it's safe to say that a lot of people involved in animal protection in this country would have a problem with the attitude of some farmers to any animal that doesn't belong to them. It also doesn't help that our pathetically lax animal cruelty legislation was all written from an agrarian standpoint and could do with a radical overhaul.

Our neighbours have a perfectly lovely Staffordshire Bull terrier who has NEVER been out of the house on her own. The lady of the house had her out for a walk one day and was followed home by the farmer I've already mentioned on this thread, who knocked on her door and warned her that if he ever saw the dog on his land, he'd shoot it.

If that's not excessive, threatening and bullying behaviour, I don't know what is.

brianthebard · 24-03-2009 01:38AM

Honey-ec wrote: »

If that's not excessive, threatening and bullying behaviour, I don't know what is.

Number of times that farmer has lost animals because of people who let their dog roam? Dog owners in this country are notoriously poor at handling their pets around other animals and even around people (see I can make generalisations too)

Honey-ec · 24-03-2009 01:46AM

brianthebard wrote: »

Number of times that farmer has lost animals because of people who let their dog roam? Dog owners in this country are notoriously poor at handling their pets around other animals and even around people (see I can make generalisations too)

So you think it's perfectly acceptable to follow every dog you see being walked, regardless of whether you've even noticed them before, disturb their owner in the privacy of their own home and threaten to kill them? Sorry, but he'd have gotten some choice words from me about getting off my private property quick smart.

And where did I generalise? I stressed SOME farmers.

ayapatrick · 24-03-2009 01:57AM

Honey-ec wrote: »

Not if the prevention entails threatening to shoot every dog you come across.
quote]
The prevention i would be thinking of would be for any person not to bring a dog near land with sheep at this time of year - its only common sense.

Referring to a previous post here about the farmers dogs barking and they dont scare the sheep. ive spent all my life on a farm and i can tell you that sheep get used to things. i can walk with my dogs past our sheep and they will not scare, if the sheep runs the dog will not chase because he is under my/the farmers control (with no leash).
but if a sheep sees something strange it will spook and run. also many pet dogs have been encouraged to chase balls etc and this i think encourages them even more to chase. (albeit just playing) but the fact of the matter, it all lies with the dog owners!

Honey-ec · 24-03-2009 02:10AM

ayapatrick wrote: »

but the fact of the matter, it all lies with the dog owners!

I'm totally in agreement with you there - all dog owners should have their dogs under control and exercise common sense, particularly in rural areas at this time of the year.

However, the farmer in question has land that backs onto the only road (public) that leads to our estate. When I'm walking my dogs down the hill, we pass his fields with sheep in them, who are often right up at the fence. They often run off when they see me walking down with the dogs - if one of them runs herself into an abortion, can the blame really be placed at the feet of me or my dogs, who were being walked - on-lead - on a public footpath and didn't even bark?

Now, that might be an extreme example, but even our vet and the local butcher (who this farmer supplies) accept that this guy is a curmudgeonly old fcuker.

ayapatrick · 24-03-2009 02:19AM

by what you say, this guy is an extreme case, but my pov on this is that everyone has to be reasonable - both sides. but i suppose we wont get away from the fact that there are careless(for want of a better word) people who couldnt give a toss!
gud nite and gud luck - bed time

Clare Bear · 24-03-2009 10:43AM

The reason Farmers go mental at people like you is because people like you sue farmers if they injure themselves on their land!

convert · 24-03-2009 02:28PM

Bambi wrote: »

Apparently it didn't so that would be somewhat illegal, but classic bogsavage mentality all the same.

So when do I point out that I don't actually live in a bog, but in a concrete jungle?! :P

Honey-ec wrote: »

It also doesn't help that our pathetically lax animal cruelty legislation was all written from an agrarian standpoint and could do with a radical overhaul.

Que fluffy bunny do-gooders brigade who want everything overhauled so that the cutsie wootsie animals are protected forever but don't understand the first thing about (animals') nature....

Snowie · 24-03-2009 02:39PM

Clare Bear wrote: »

The reason Farmers go mental at people like you is because people like you sue farmers if they injure themselves on their land!

Very true,

Op dogs a sheep are not a good mix, I know of 2 dogs that butured 20 sheep. :eek:..

24-03-2009 04:45PM

ClioV6 wrote: »

He'll call the gardas and then shoot....

Quoted and highlighted for sh1ts and giggles. Quality.

convert wrote: »

We've had people randomly drive up our avenue, open gates, drive into the field with livestock in it (without closing the gate), pitch their tent and light a fire to cook their dinner. And then look at us strangely because we asked them what they hell they were doing....

Eh, they were camping, LDO. The tent and campfire should've been a dead giveaway. :P

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

Op dogs a sheep are not a good mix, I know of 2 dogs that butured 20 sheep. :eek:..

And I know of one snowmonkey who butchered a very sensible post. :eek:

kelle · 24-03-2009 07:31PM

I live on a lane with 3 houses (incl mine) and neighbours go for walks along it and wheel their buggies as it's much safer than the main road where the road is straight and the drivers are like lunatics. We've never objected to this, and would rather see them safe on this lane.
What is the problem with the man mentioned in the OP - FGS it was only somebody walking their dog on the lane, not a gang of Hell's Angels or rowdy partygoers.

Ann22 · 24-03-2009 09:20PM

The dogs that worry sheep are unlikely to be the pets that are walked on leads by their owners. I understand the farmer being annoyed but he was wrong to presume or to judge the chap. Right the op was trespassing accidentally, it doesn't mean he should he held responsible for any sheep worrying etc that had occurred beforehand. He should've had a word with the chap, not go mental and threaten violence.

Blush_01 · 24-03-2009 11:48PM

Ann22 wrote: »

The dogs that worry sheep are unlikely to be the pets that are walked on leads by their owners. I understand the farmer being annoyed but he was wrong to presume or to judge the chap. Right the op was trespassing accidentally, it doesn't mean he should he held responsible for any sheep worrying etc that had occurred beforehand. He should've had a word with the chap, not go mental and threaten violence.

I call BS on that. Any animal that isn't adequately monitored can wander. Your fluffy little pet can turn into a liability with very little effort. All it takes is for your dog to wander one night (after his evening stroll on a leash) and the bloodspill can be horrific.

Just because a number of houses are built off a private laneway or road does not make that road public, it just means that there is a private road which the people who live in those houses use to get to their property. Kelle, I don't think you're comparing like with like.

OP, from your investigations have you found out whether the farmer lives alone or not? That could be another reason for his concern.

nlgbbbblth · 24-03-2009 11:54PM

The real questions here are why do the dogs attack sheep for no reason and why do we tolerate it?

mumhaabu · 25-03-2009 12:27AM

I know a farmer who had over 20 sheep killed by dogs from a rather dopey dog owner who was pretty frivolous with the care of their dogs. Anyway the farmer landed down to your man with a pump action shotgun and proceeded to shoot the dogs in front of him despite his protest and fired a shot over the house as a warning for him to stay inside as he proceeded to butcher this idiots 6 dogs and a cat that strayed into his path and he then left the yard with his son and their two guns. The dog owner went totally crazy phoned the gardai and was told pretty much "good enough for you" by Gardai who called out to the farmer and asked him and he told them straight out what happened and said he had to do it as this had wiped out his profit for the year. This farmer was not old and was in his thirties.

Nothing happened about it and the farmer was very right to do what he did as I speak from experience. I shot dogs myself once after almost getting killed by two of the most vicious dogs I had ever encountered, When I was in my early twenties I was out walking in the country side up a public country road only to have a pitbull and a real vicious Labrador/German shepherd cross mongrel dog attack me and my then girlfriend and her young sister and mother as we had gone out for a stroll to pass away part of a lovely Sunday.

The panic I will never forget and even though it was a sort of adrenaline fuelled fight or flight I remember getting the young sister up onto a branch of a tree before luring them away from the GF and mother who ran in the opposite direction, I ran from the dogs and luckily found a loose fencing stake to fight them off after they had bitten my leg twice. I went home and bandaged up before me and the GF's brother got a loan of a neighbours Shotgun and drove up to where the dogs were and I shot them dead in clinical fashion without asking questions, I had to do this to protect other walkers, if the little girl I put on the tree had been on her own she would have been killed. The owner an English hippy stoner went mad and I told him the next dogs I see by him would get the same again he got such a fright he moved on within a month.

Dyr · 25-03-2009 12:50AM

Nothing happened about it and the farmer was very right to do what he did as I speak from experience.

he probably should have gone to prison with his moron offspring, another bog savage who thinks he's judge dredd cos he was a given a gun licence be de local super :rolleyes:

Professey Chin · 25-03-2009 12:52AM

mumhaabu wrote: »

I shot dogs myself once after almost getting killed by two of the most vicious dogs I had ever encountered

You seem pretty alive to me :rolleyes:

I knew this thread was gonna degenerate into this.Country folk with past experiences vs People without
"I know dogs who did this.You never lived near a farm"
"The dog was on a lead"
"I know dogs who did this"
"Dog on lead"
On and on and on and on.
Bottom line. Should the farmer have been more polite about it? Yes. Past experiences dont mean he shouldnt have common courtesy now.If someone threatened to shoot my dog that bluntly he'd be unconscious in seconds. He might have had past problems but that doesnt mean he should be a cnut. And since the walk appears to be a public lane (if I read a link right earlier), he has no right to warn people off it and threaten them. In my judgement, farmer = scared but absolutely ignorant gobshite

Blush_01 · 25-03-2009 11:33PM

Ignorance comes in more than one form. Never heard of "once bitten, twice shy"? Or "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me."?

If I saw someone walking a dog on one of our private roads or laneways, especially a dog who's a bit mental (to paraphrase the OP) I'd give them a bollocking too. Gates and fences are there to protect both the animal AND THE PUBLIC. There's a reason why farmers pay public liability insurance, and it's not for the fun of throwing scarce cash away. A seemingly empty field can have very dangerous animals in it - don't be gobsh!te enough to think that you can see everything. Likewise, if you open a gate, you close it behind you - it's basic common sense.

Regardless of how placid an animal seems, they're still an animal with animal instincts. Farm animals may have had plenty of human contact - or they may not. For example, just because my dad can walk through our beef herd and come out unscathed doesn't mean someone those animals don't see and hear daily could do the same.

Anyone who refers to shearing sheep as

shaving sheep or whatever it is they do

has no business wandering around private property, never mind being near working animals.

Bambi, it would be foolish to write someone off as a moron based on a comment they make, the industry they work on, or their urban/rural setting. A profound lack of basic understanding of the practicalities of the situation doesn't make you a moron, does it? Your frivolous use of the term "bog savage" does little to recommend you as an intelligent person, but that would be taking your comments in isolation without looking at the bigger picture. Couldn't be doing that now, could we.

26-03-2009 12:29PM

mumhaabu wrote: »

.... and fired a shot over the house as a warning for him to stay inside...

Why?.............Would he have shot your man as well?

Old Farmers

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