Pregnant sheep in St Mary’s Bay are being harassed by dogs off lead, potentially causing them to lose their lambs.
Donna Walker-Hudson and Chris Weller farm in St Mary’s Bay on Romney Marsh. They have seen dogs running in their fields this season and expect 124 lambs soon. The stress caused by these dogs makes them fear the worst.
Donna said they saw dogs chasing sheep and stressed the importance of people remembering the sheep are pregnant. She wants dogs on leads, feeling it is common sense, because stress can cause ewes to abort their pregnancy.
Dogs do not always know the impact of their actions. Sheep run from dogs, and the dogs might think it’s fun, but the sheep are just scared. They don’t want any more dog attacks. Two sheep died in a suspected dog attack in 2022.
That prior attack injured four sheep in total and happened near Old Romney. Afterwards, Donna made warning signs and put them up around Romney Marsh. However, people tore these signs down, prompting her to laminate and staple them up instead.
She was upset by the prior attack. A vet came to treat the sheep, and one animal’s insides fell out during treatment. Donna found it heartbreaking; although a business, they hand-rear some sheep for breeding purposes.
Donna actually owns five dogs but would not take them to the farm. Her husband works at a crop farm, where they walk their dogs. This approach keeps them safely away from livestock.
Donna hopes new signs will help promote responsible dog ownership. The Animals Act of 1971 protects livestock, and people can injure or kill dogs if they are worrying livestock.
Dog owners can commit a crime if a dog worries livestock on farmland. Worrying includes chasing or attacking, as well as actions causing distress. These actions can lead to loss or suffering for the animals.