Small Woodland Owners' Group

Dangerous and uncontrolled dogs.

Topics that don't easily fit anywhere else!

Postby tracy » Fri May 09, 2008 8:38 am

A friend of ours walking in the wood recently had trouble with 2 pitt bulls. The owner of the dogs had little control over them, they were loose, and they were very agressive towards our friend. Now, technically, this person was on private land at the time, although many people walk their dogs in the wood. (and are fine) Our concern, other than people, children, the elderly...is also the boar. That would be a nasty altercation!


Anyone else experienced this kind of thing and what can we do? I assume the local PC or someone could help?

Thanks


tracy
 
Posts: 1313
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:30 pm

Postby Binz » Mon May 12, 2008 7:32 am

Hi Tracy,


there\'s 2 issues here, one is the right or otherwise of people to enter your land, the other is dangerous dogs (whether they are on your land or not).

In my experience there is a difference between loud/agressive and dangerous dogs, but that doesn\'t necessarily make the experience less frightening if you meet either type. So depending on the particular dogs (and owners) in question there are various options. Step 1 should always be to talk with the owners and explain the situation (e.g. that you are OK with people walking dogs in the wood, but that the dogs should be kept on a lead due to the wildlife, etc) - this is a better 1st step than criticising someone or their dog as people can be sensitive even if they appear otherwise. If talking doesn\'t work, then putting signs up probably wont work either and you probably dont want to physically prevent access to all your woodland; if it does come to it that the law needs to be involved, then I doubt that a PC will be interested unless you have proof that a criminal offence has taken place (trespass is not a criminal offence), so unless you personally know a copper who you can ask to do you a favour you may have trouble going down that route.

However, if by \'very agressive\' your friend means the dogs were \'dangerously out of control\', then it is a criminal offence and plod may be more interested (especially if you have evidence).


a quick search found a couple of handy website summaries;

trespass summary http://www.a-level-law.com/tort/trespass_to_land/notes.htm

dangerous dogs and law http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/domestic/dogs.htm


Binz

[don\'t judge a dog by it\'s owner, or an owner by it\'s dog]


Binz
 
Posts: 124
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:16 am

Postby moonwood » Mon May 12, 2008 1:43 pm

if you have shooting rights,explain that it could be dangerous for the dog ,ie mistaken for a fox,even if you do not shoot on your land it may stop the trespass


moonwood
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:45 pm

Postby tracy » Mon May 12, 2008 8:25 pm

Thanks guys! Some useful ideas, I will pass them on. (although I doubt I would threaten to shoot them, and we don\'t shoot in our wood. ;-)


tracy
 
Posts: 1313
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:30 pm

Postby moonwood » Mon May 12, 2008 9:33 pm

get a bigger dog ,even better tame a wild boar,here piggy piggy


moonwood
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:45 pm

Postby Chris » Wed May 21, 2008 7:42 am

You could always warn people, either verbally or by signs of dangers to dogs in the wood. We warn dog walkers about deer. If you have fallow, they can and will kill a large dog if it gets near their fawn. Of course wild boar are even more aggressive.


Chris
 
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:42 am

Postby Justyh » Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:58 pm

Going off on a slight tangent we’ve had a few occasions with campers in the wood. This has never bothered me much until late last summer when some teenagers burnt all my fire wood and spray painted some tress (with very creative writing!). I made a point of being around the wood a lot more until I found them early one Saturday morning and after giving them a early wake up call (which they seem to appreciate!!) informed them that it was best they left and didn’t come back. But today I spoke with a neighbour who said that someone had burnt his entire camp fire wood stack and left rubbish every where. Not only is this very frustrating but also quite dangerous with the size of fires they must have to get through so much wood. Any ideas what will keep these sorts of people away?


Justyh
 
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:17 am

Postby tracy » Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:24 am

That\'s no fun, sorry to hear about it. We had a bit of vandalism in our wood - and reported it to the police. Not that they could do anything really, but it would give us a good case for a secure shed in the future ;-) They may also have some advice for you.


Can you put up fake CCTV?

Talk to the villiage police/ parish council/ school? I suppose the big one is, can you find out who they are and visit their parents? I would also take pictures of the damage and the mess.

Let us know how you get on

Tracy


tracy
 
Posts: 1313
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:30 pm

Postby Darren » Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:57 pm

Have you tried private property signs?


Darren
 
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:26 pm

Postby moonwood » Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:22 pm

we had a caravan in the woods and it was ok for a year then was found and vandalised,then after a member of the public told the council we were given an enforcment notice to remove,(we appealed and lost )but still get the occasional visitor ,i am going to put up signs warning of shooting or archery,trouble is we are all to remote .


moonwood
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:45 pm

Next

Return to General

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests