Dorset dog owners warned after pregnant cow found dead
The family believes dogs running off the lead are responsible for the death of their Highland Cow.
Last updated 2nd Jun 2021
Warning: some may find some of the content in this news article distressing.
The family of Redlands Copice in Toller Porcorum say they're heartbroken after the death of Gladys, one of their highland cows.
They believe dogs are to blame for Gladys' death, just days before she was due to give birth to a calf.
Gladys fell 30ft to her death sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, after reports of dogs loose in the fields at Eggardon Hill.
Cameron Farquharson owns the cows. He said:
"There's no words to describe emotionally... we're all heartbroken. Mentally, we're all upset, emotionally we're all upset. It's like losing a part of the family.
"I've only got 20 cows up here and each one counts, and replacement-wise, I can't afford to replace her at the moment.
"We've had this animal since she was one year old, my youngest daughter has grown up with this animal. Gladys was five years old."
The family took to facebook on Friday to ask dog owners to act responsibly around livestock. They say the issue has gone too far.
In a video posted this weekend, the family are shown heartbroken over Gladys' death.
They say dog owners often mistake what their dogs will do when in a field with livestock.
The cows are incredibly docile and scare easily when chased - contrary to what you might expect for such big, horned animals.
Cameron said:
"Your dogs instict is to chase, whether it's a twig, ball, sheep, cow - he's going to chase and when the adrenaline kicks in with these dogs you can't stop them.
My plea is, if you're walking in a field full of livestock, whether is cows, sheep, alpacas, horses, do the right thing for the farmer. Put your dog on the lead.
"This is what happens, this is what you get, and I've got a dead cow and I've got heartache in my family because somebody was reckless and didn't control their dogs."
Dorset Police are carrying out enquiries into the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101 and quoting occurrence number 55210084478