Dogs Gone Wild: Farmer's Cow Chased to Death by Unleashed Hounds!

Another innocent animal falls victim to the growing problem of dog attacks on livestock in Dorset. Farmer Alison Johnson's 250-acre farm in North Dorset has seen its fair share of the violence, with numerous cattle and sheep either dead or seriously injured in the past decade. The latest victim? A two-year-old Aberdeen Angus cross, caught up in a fence after a deadly chase.

Mrs. Johnson was shocked to find the cow still warm and upside down, a clear sign that it had been chased just hours before. The steer, running for its life, lost its footing and tumbled into the fence, becoming entangled. And this isn't the first time this has happened on the farm - Mrs. Johnson recalls another sheep having its ear bitten off by a dog, but thankfully, it survived.

The disturbing trend isn't just limited to North Dorset, as a recent NFU survey shows the South West to be the second-worst region in England for dog attacks on livestock. Of the over 1,100 dog owners who took part, 64% admitted their dogs chase animals, with nearly half saying their pet is not capable of injuring or killing livestock. The damage done? South West farm animals worth a staggering £273,429 were severely injured or killed by dogs in 2022.

But what's even more concerning is the apathy of pet owners towards the issue. Mrs. Johnson's pleas for control have fallen on deaf ears, with most people not seeing the problem and believing their dogs would never harm a fly. It's a dangerous attitude that's causing financial and mental stress for farmers like Mrs. Johnson, whose livelihood depends on their livestock.

Phoebe Ridley from NFU Mutual South West also sheds light on another concerning factor - the rise of distracted dog walkers. With more and more walkers on their mobile phones, their pets are often out of sight, and they seem unaware of the chaos they could cause. It's high time pet owners start taking responsibility for their animals and prevent another tragedy from happening.