Footpath laws and dogs in with livestock question

Fii

Fii

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Do any of you knowledgeable people have any idea of rules for footpath use?

There are some footpaths through our field, which a lot of local dog walkers (and holiday makers) use, not many pick up their dog mess, and as soon as they are through the gate they let the dogs of the leads!
One woman in particular, who has four labs, walks along the footpath, but pays no heed to the dogs running everywhere else in the field, i mentioned to her that they should be kept on the footpath as well, and under control because of the horses, she is arguing with me, and says not!!
She has angered a local farmer , by allowing her dogs to run through the cows and says she only needs to put a lead on through sheep :confused:
Also OH has caught her climbing through fences far off of footpaths :(
Now my horses arent bothered by dogs generally, but she is being pedantic with me, and i would like to know the "rules"..............
......Thanks in advance. :)
 
lol wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall (as so to speak!) when you next have a run in with her!!
Hopefully she will pull her socks up and sort her attitude out once she is educated in the countryside code! :D
 
i think the phrase `right to roam` is taken literally and it was bad to name it that.footpaths have a width that should be stuck to.
 
She asked me a few months back if i had a problem with her......i said no if i did you would be the first to know......i now have big problem with her and it isnt just about the footpath/dog thing!!
She is an ex copper ( i think) or she worked for the police, and moved here a few years back,and is the nosiest person i have evr met, literally walks around looking for stuff to complain about!

I am definitely going to print that off and laminate one for the field gate, and maybe post her an other one.....overkill?? Nah this may be war!! :D
 
My father-in-law has a foot path running through his field and has people walking their dogs off the leads. A lady who's dog chased and got kicked out at by a horse tried to sue, having been asked if her dog was on the F/P and having to admit it wasn't was promptly told she was trespassing and to keep her doh under control.
 
When we were at livery the YO fenced off the footpaths with stock-fencing to keep dogs out of the fields. The paths were wider than the minimum legally necessary. The dog-walkers were incensed! But they were more than happy to walk along the tractor-tracks that he made round the edges of the fields, which definitely were NOT public rights of way.
 
We had a footpath through the field the horses were in, years ago. One collie became particularly troublesome, chasing horses and being a right pain. The resident 'top dog' gelding decided to do something about it, as did my mare. Let's say that dog never tried that again lol! Recently we've had trouble with a dog from a footpath alongside our field. Solved by putting that same mare and a feisty friend in a paddock alongside the fence. Dog doesn't seem to want to come in again somehow!!!

So - could you borrow a horse that doesn't like dogs for a bit? That might persuade her to keep it under control? There must be other horses that don't have a problem unless the dog causes issues...
 
Ok if you get onto your local council re the dog poo and then they can put notices up or send you copy. She can be liable to hefty fines if her dogs mess on a public footpath and she should be clearing it up. They can come and wait and catch her or anyone else if it continues.

If she leaves the footpath she is tresspassingThere is an official width and I cant remember it? But she should have her dogs on a lead when near livestock etc. Our farmers have notices up on the gateways. My relative put dog poo notices up and someone scribbled you cant do this its agricultural land!! The dog poo wardens take it very seriously. If she walks at a set time each day it would be quite easy to get her reported and prosecuted. You dont have to provide poo bins they can take it home.

Once I collected someones dog poo after it kept c...ping on my land , got a shovel and use to go and sling it on their front garden ie give it back to them. They told me their dog could open the gate!! How would they like it if your dog kept c....ping in their back garden.
 
Could you electric fence off the pathway? I think if you have the correct signage every so many metres its ok or you could have a live fence inside another non electrified fence maybe

Its worth picking up the dog poo and leaving it in a pile by the gate with a sign saying 'please take your dog's mess home with you!) perhaps walking past a smelly gateway will drive the message home
 
Fii said:
That is very helpful !! Thank you!
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Just to add that this is one of the few circumstances in which horses are classed in with agricultural livestock - the relevant act specifically covers them as animals who are covered in the definition of worrying by dogs.

The dog should be on a lead or under close control and should remain on the footpath at all times, they have no right to be wandering off it. They are not permitted to allow the dog to foul the path without removing the poo. NB It is a bit greyer with poo on agricultural land but given (above) they have no right to be there anyway, its fairly academic, the poo just provides great proof of the trespassing!!
 
WelshD said:
Could you electric fence off the pathway? I think if you have the correct signage every so many metres its ok or you could have a live fence inside another non electrified fence maybe

Its worth picking up the dog poo and leaving it in a pile by the gate with a sign saying 'please take your dog's mess home with you!) perhaps walking past a smelly gateway will drive the message home
Click to expand...

It would cost to much and be a pain in the arse to fence footpaths (although i have been thinking about it!)

Field is over nine acres, one footpath down one side, another down other side, with a another connecting the two! Although third footpath may actually be outside field, which i am currently trying to find out!!
 
Fii said:
It would cost to much and be a pain in the arse to fence footpaths (although i have been thinking about it!)

Field is over nine acres, one footpath down one side, another down other side, with a another connecting the two! Although third footpath may actually be outside field, which i am currently trying to find out!!
Click to expand...

Or grow a fine crop of something spiky or sting-y as a hedge :-))
 
We have a similar problem... a neighbour has a license to board 3 dogs. she often walks up to 7 mostly off lead around our farm some of which is footpath some is permitted access. dogs run through cattle & crops and are not under any kind of control. we complained to the dog warden who is waiting to do a 'spot' check on her & 'take the matter further'. so far its been oing on for 12+ months
 
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