Shepherd speaks out after dogwalkers let pets maul livestock

Vera Hoenen lives in Old Town and looks after a flock of 41 sheep near Watchfield with her husband Nick and five-year-old daughter Ivy.

The private land has a public footpath that allows people to stroll along the edges of the fields.

Most dogwalkers are considerate, but some damaged equipment and shouted abuse after being told to put their pets on a lead. One ewe was so savagely mauled that it had to be put down.

Vera Hoenen and her daughter Ivy with their sheep in Watchfield (Image: Newsquest)

Vera said: “The injuries were horrific – her left leg muscles were torn off the bone - and she was left to suffer for hours before we found her.

“Some people have a strange sense of stubborn entitlement and lose all etiquette, I don't understand it.

“One man got very aggressive, threatened to kick my head in, saying he’d fought in a war so he could do what he wanted, and told me to eff off and go back to my own country – I’m Dutch - while my daughter was standing next to me.

The flock of sheep on Westmill Wind Farm (Image: Newsquest)

“I followed one person off the land after he refused to leash his dog, so he kicked every sign he saw on the way out.

“Most people are lovely and stop for a chat, but some pretend they don’t see the signs or the livestock, they take the dogs off the lead when they think they’re out of range, it's frustrating."

Vera’s ewes and castrated male sheep on the Westmill Wind Farm are only used for wool and were inherited from another shepherd six years ago.

The death of 12-year-old ewe Teatime could be a tipping point that leads to the land being closed to pedestrians.

Vera added: “I don’t want that to happen because it’s great for people to experience a close connection with nature, but it might be necessary to protect the livestock and the land because these attacks and aggression are common problems for farmers.

Ivy Hoenen comforts Teatime the wounded sheep in Westmill Wind Farm (Image: Vera Hoenen)

Ivy Hoenen with one of the sheep on Westmill Wind Farm (Image: Newsquest)

“One of my friends was beaten and spat on. I’m glad my shepherd’s crook keeps something between me and them in case they get angry.

“Letting your dog run up to the electric fence and bark is not funny. The stress can cause sheep to have heart attacks and abortions, and the dogs might be hurt by the fence.

“Keeping them on leads keeps everyone safe and makes sheep less apprehensive. It's up to the owners to keep their pets safe."