Farmers neglect.

[LLASY]

The local Farmer/ Shepherd put his flock (and new lambs) on the meadow which has the River Frome running through it. On many occasions whilst out with my
dogs I have come across sheep that have fallen in the river, usually I am too late and they have drowned, somethimes I get to them in time and can get them out ,but on Sunday a small lamb had fallen in and it's mother was frantic. Luckily a guy came along and managed to get the lamb out but had to carry it at least half a mile to get it back to its mum on the other side of the river. I think this is dreadful, I have reported this farmer to the RSPCA in the past for neglect to his flock but nothing seems to happen. What more can be done to stop this?

[teag1rl]

FFS are you suggesting all river banks through pasture should be fenced off to stop suicidal sheep?
it's nature. go and live in a town if you don't like it

[LLASY]

Hi Tea Girl
You sound a really compassionate person,!!!?I have lived in the country side all my life and I certainly will not go live in a town because I don't like seeing young animals suffering, they are not suicidal just young and inexperienced, but hey if you think its OK then who am I to argue!! You should go live with the farmer who I am talking about you would get on really well together!

[lankeela]

Don't expect the RSPCA to do anything. Got a leaflet from them in the post today, a survey, one of the questions is 'do you know the RSPCA also cares and campaigns for farm animals?' Try getting them to come out unless there are TV cameras around.

You could try contacting your local paper, or branch of the National Farmers Union.

[LLASY]

Thanks lankeela I will do that. Its not just the poor things falling in the river, the majority of the sheep are Limping they are getting tangled up in brambles and are just being left to die. The amount of carcasses lying round is unbelievable not to mention the stink in the warmer weather.

[kita1]

You could also try your Environmental Health Office at the council. Carcasses left lying around are a health hazard and I am sure that farmers are obliged by law to dispose of them properly.

Also the people who are responsible for the river (river/water authorities?) may be interested, as the carcasses will be contaminating the water.

Also if you could get hold of a local RSPCA officer/inspector (do they have a shop or animal centre near to you?) and tell them direct they may be more helpful than the national phone line.

PS Make sure you keep your dogs on leads and well away from the sheep - the farmer may not be concerned about his sheep normally but if he suspects that someone is complaining about him - well put it this way, he is still well within his rights to shoot dogs 'worrying' his sheep.

[jedimistress]

DEFRA may even put you in the right direction.

[4getmenot]

teag1rl i thought you were alot nicer than to oput an answer like that. Have just been forwarded here by a post in suggestions about being rude and was very shocked to find it was you.

[4getmenot]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/AB-Suggestions/ Question401198.html

[teag1rl]

Llasy. I'm sorry I swore. I did not see why sheep falling in a river was a case for neglect by the farmer. As I see from subsequent posts there is more to it than that. And if you keep finding sheep in the river I would suggest he is using it as a disposal facility because as stupid as sheep are, they aren't really lemmings.

[IggyB]

i can't see what can be done to stop sheep falling into rivers though - its just not practical or probably legal to fence of the river banks so iu would suggest that some natural wastage of livestock be expected... prob sad to find but it is a fact of life that many of the young and inexperienced will die when left to their own devices