Dog owner in court over out-of-control animals near Shrewsbury
A dog owner whose pets worried sheep near Shrewsbury and were dangerously out of control has appeared in court.
Stuart Kerr owned four dogs which ran amok near Woodside Farm, in Shrawardine, Telford Magistrates Court heard.
Mrs Jenny Winzor, prosecuting, said he had previously lived on Woodside Farm but sold the farmhouse and moved into a caravan on part of the land. She said his four dogs lived with him.
The court heard that on March 28 a man had been walking past the farm with his sheep dog on a lead. Mrs Winzor said Kerr’s dogs – two Collie sheep dogs, a Jack Russell Terrier and a springer spaniel – came from Woodside Farm and on to a public road, confronting the dog walker.
She said the four dogs went after the man’s dog and he had to defend himself with a walking stick.
There were no injuries, the court heard.
Mrs Winzor said Kerr’s dogs had also worried sheep in Shrawardine on April 2. She told the court: “Mr Kerr has been given a number of warnings that he must keep his dogs under control.”
She said some of the dogs had since been handed over to the RSPCA.
Mrs Winzor said when Kerr was interviewed he said he had sold the farmhouse and yard so was unable to put a fence around it. Kerr, aged 40, pleaded guilty to five charges of being the owner of dogs which were dangerously out of control. He also admitted two charges of being the owner of a dog worrying livestock.
Mr Paul Nicholas, representing Kerr, said he had been co-operating with the RSPCA.
He said the animal charity had allowed him to keep one of the collies and the springer spaniel, but the other two dogs had been handed over to the RSPCA with Kerr’s agreement.
Magistrates handed him a 12-month conditional discharge and Kerr was ordered to pay £135 costs and £20 victim surcharge.
Last year, it emerged dog owners whose pets worry sheep in Shropshire are being made to talk to farmers about the impact of their actions.
In August, it was reported that there had been 60 cases of sheep-worrying across the Shropshire council area in the past three years.
In Telford & Wrekin there were five instances of dogs worrying livestock, reported to West Mercia Police from the Ironbridge Gorge, Lawley and Waters Upton areas.
In four of these cases, offenders were offered restorative justice, which gives victims the chance to meet or talk with offenders to explain the impact of the crime.
