An angry dog walker has ripped down an FG Take the Lead sign - describing sheep worrying as a ’small problem’.
Farmer Guardian editor Ben Briggs received an anonymous letter with the torn-down sign which was described as ’objectionable and rude’.
It read: "This sort of sign is incompetent and unhelpful. It fosters a deeper gulf between farmers and the majority of other country people and visiting countryside users.
"It is objectionable, rude and overstates a small problem.
Disgusting: some moron has ripped down & posted me 1 of FG’s Take the Lead signs & said dog attacks aren’t a problem! pic.twitter.com/DoB169n4nc
— Ben Briggs (@FGBen)Disgusting: some moron has ripped down & posted me 1 of FG's Take the Lead signs & said dog attacks aren't a problem! pic.twitter.com/DoB169n4nc
— Ben Briggs (@FGBen) August 14, 2017
"Please ask dog owners to keep their pets under control, rather than ordering them to keep dogs on leads - something farmers have no right to do.
"At this time, during Brexit, farmers should be reaching out to country people - not just shouting at them."
The ’Take the Lead’ campaign has been backed by a wide range of high profile rural groups including the Women’s Food and Farming Union, British Horse Society, Lake District National Park, Countryside Alliance, Farmers Union of Wales, NFU Scotland, NFU and NFU Mutual, The Farming Forum, CLA, Ramblers and the RSPCA.
It aims to raise awareness of livestock worrying and reduce the number of dog attacks.
We have 1,000s of livestock worrying signs which you can nail to gateposts or fenceposts near footpaths to highlight the problem to walkers.
If you would like some of these signs, please send a stamped, self-addressed A4 envelope to:
FG Take the Lead, Farmers Guardian,
Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park,
Preston, Lancashire,
PR2 9NZ.
You will need at least three First Class or Second Class stamps on to cover postage costs. We will be able send up to 25 signs.
**rolls eyes furiously** 🤦🏻♀️ t.co/8OQcIZ0MI6
— Charlotte Cunningham (@CharCunningham)**rolls eyes furiously** \uD83E\uDD26\uD83C\uDFFB♀️ https://t.co/8OQcIZ0MI6
— Charlotte Cunningham (@CharCunningham) August 14, 2017
And I'm sure this idiot will cry like a baby if their dog was legally shot for worrying livestock....
— Neil Norman (@norm789)And I'm sure this idiot will cry like a baby if their dog was legally shot for worrying livestock....
— Neil Norman (@norm789) August 14, 2017
I thought that keeping dogs on leads was a legal requirement around stock during certain times of the year?
— TimInBrum (@timinbrum)I thought that keeping dogs on leads was a legal requirement around stock during certain times of the year?
— TimInBrum (@timinbrum) August 14, 2017
Errrr...dog attacks ARE a problem.
— Ian Buglass (@IanBuglass)Errrr...dog attacks ARE a problem.
— Ian Buglass (@IanBuglass) August 14, 2017
yep dogs never cause a problem pic.twitter.com/T8ak3Oh6FD
— Adam Quinney (@ACQuinney)yep dogs never cause a problem pic.twitter.com/T8ak3Oh6FD
— Adam Quinney (@ACQuinney) August 14, 2017