Farmer leaves emotional note to dog walkers after putting down pregnant ewe

A farmer has left an emotional plea to dog walkers after having to put down a pregnant ewe.

The farmer pinned a heartfelt handwritten note to a gate on a field in Cheshire after the female sheep was put down.

A picture of the note was posted on the Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team’s Facebook page last Friday.

The note asked dog walkers to keep their animals on their leads. It said the dogs can chase the ewes and frighten them, even if they may not attack.

In the note, the Cheshire farmer wrote: "We have pregnant ewes in this field. We have just had the vet put down a pregnant ewe.

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"Please keep your dog/s on a lead, they may not attack but can still chase and scare our ewes. Thank you."

On its Facebook page, the Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team said there had been an increase in these sorts of messages being pinned up by distraught farmers.

The police force said: “Trying to get that message across.

"No one wants to over-sign the countryside, but it's really sad that we not only have official signs reminding people of their responsibilities to effectively not commit a crime, but we are seeing more and more heartfelt messages being put up.

"Remember: your dog, your responsibility.”