Farmer shot my dog in a field
A DOG owner whose boxer cross was shot dead by a farmer has spoken of her shock.
Sarah Benson, 25, who works at Gables Farm Dogs and Cats Home in Plympton, was walking on a bridleway in Yealmpton when her rescue dog Chance disappeared into a hedge.
Farmer Norman Spry said he shot the animal because it was bothering his cattle but she denies this.
Sarah said she was with her boyfriend Damian Howard and her two dogs at around 3pm on Saturday, October 4 when Chance disappeared for five minutes.
She said: "I heard a dog barking and then a gun shot and that's when the cows started making noise."
Sarah said the couple ran in to a field of a cattle and saw Chance but he was 'nowhere near' the other animals.
Sarah said: "I called him and he tried to come back to me and then the farmer shot him in the head.
"I just couldn't believe it. I saw it but it didn't really register.
"He was a fantastic dog, he loved children and everybody."
However, Yealmpton farmer Mr Spry said he shot the dog because it was "definitely chasing the cattle", some of which were in calf.
He said: "There's no doubt about it, the dog was not under control and the owner was nowhere in sight – and I could see at least 100 yards down the valley."
Mr Spry said he initially went down to the field and chased a dog away after hearing it barking.
He said: "I came back up to the house and then he was at it again so I got my gun and shot it.
"There's a lot of emphasis being put on this dog but what about the cattle?"
Sarah called the police and a local beat officer attended the scene.
A police spokesman said there were no independent witnesses and, as it was deemed a civil matter rather than a criminal offence, there would be no further police action.
114 Comments
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by farmer, sussex
Thursday, August 20 2009, 11:54AM
“im a farmer and massive dog lover!
few things people need to understand. she was walking on a public right of way she have every right to be there as such. what she needed to understand is that its a right of way through a place of work and care needs to be taken.
the dog went through a hedge in to a farmers field,cows dispite thier size are easily scared and its not uncommon when this happens to miscarriage and that useually mean sthe cow it self will end up at the incinerator.
the owner wasnt with the dog the dog was on the farmers land barkign and worrying cows the farmer did what he had to to stop loss! its the harsh reality of the country side.guns are a part of the country side and farming if you dont like it DONT COME TO FARMS!”
by John Bettes, Huntingdon
Friday, June 26 2009, 5:38AM
“Too many people forget that
footpaths across farmland were not designated as such in order that people could "exercise dogs" which in my experience is a mere euphemism for taking their ill-trained pets onto someone else's property so that they can defecate, run loose and in some cases chase the livestock.
There is a different level of control required of dog owners in the countryside where most dogs are working animals not surrogate children. Sadly it is a place where many people find out the limits of the control they have over their pets.
To the pet owners this may be the only time their pet has sinned - a special case - but to the farmer it will be an all-too-frequent occurrence.
In this case the dog was off the lead and barking in a field of livestock. As another reader hads commented, that isn't "close control" .”
by Suzannah, Plymouth
Wednesday, October 15 2008, 9:39PM
“Dog owner 22, I quite agree, I'd like to see that freakin farmer being chase with a gun. Why do we need farm animals, we can live quite well without animals products. the land would be better served in growing sustainable crops.”
by dog owner 22, plymouth
Wednesday, October 15 2008, 6:43PM
“shut up ditzty molly maybe some one should shoot you and did i even mention having all farm animals removed from the country side i think not get your facts straight or shove off”
by Molly, Sutton
Wednesday, October 15 2008, 5:31PM
“Would dog owner 22 have all farm animals removed from the countryside so that suburban pets with ditzy owners can run wild and uncontrolled?”