What is the law regarding my 3 Whippets chasing Deer on walks?I don't encourage it and as far as I know they have never harmed one.It just seems where ever I go there are Deer!
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Whippets Chasing Deer
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Not sure about just chasing but it is illegal to kill a deer with dogs, if someone reported you it would be difficult to prove you wasn't intentionally hunting deer.
The only thing you can legally hunt/kill with dogs is rats & rabbits.
The only thing you can legally hunt/kill with dogs is rats & rabbits.
I would also be worried that your whippets could get kicked by the deer - they could do some awful damage 
Other scenarios could be getting lost or injuring themselves on barbed wire/ crashing into trees/run onto a road etc as they chase. Practically, what would they do with the deer if they caught it? Do you think they would go for it or are they just after a chase? Or do they not get near enough to be a danger?
The law, I think, states that if you have more than two dogs with you it could be seen as 'hunting with dogs' - they would have to prove you were and you might have to prove you were not intending to hunt.
Other scenarios could be getting lost or injuring themselves on barbed wire/ crashing into trees/run onto a road etc as they chase. Practically, what would they do with the deer if they caught it? Do you think they would go for it or are they just after a chase? Or do they not get near enough to be a danger?The law, I think, states that if you have more than two dogs with you it could be seen as 'hunting with dogs' - they would have to prove you were and you might have to prove you were not intending to hunt.
As far as the Hunting Act 2004 is concerned Hunting is defined as an intentional activity - ie you have to deliberately go out with the intention of using your dogs to chase or kill. It does not apply to pet dogs who chase something they accidentally meet on a walk.
I would share Esty's worries about letting them chase, though, sighthounds will focus so hard on the chase they lose all sense of safety. One of mine ripped himself really badly jumping a barbed wire fence when he went off after a deer a few years back and ended up needing several lots of surgery and skin grafts. Muntjak deer in particular will defend themselves and can cause some nasty injuries to dogs.
I would share Esty's worries about letting them chase, though, sighthounds will focus so hard on the chase they lose all sense of safety. One of mine ripped himself really badly jumping a barbed wire fence when he went off after a deer a few years back and ended up needing several lots of surgery and skin grafts. Muntjak deer in particular will defend themselves and can cause some nasty injuries to dogs.
I am surrounded by woodland and the deer are everywhere.I've seen the dogs chase them and the deer always outrun them (they are not muntjac) and then the dogs come back.I understand what you mean about the potential injury to the dogs as they have had visits to the vets after chasing rabbits!
All my dogs have cat bells on their collars because I hate them hunting!
I was told this morning that there is a group of people after me because they have seen my dogs chasing deer and that they have informed the RSPCA and I just wanted to know what my rights were.It doesn't matter where I walk my dogs 9 out of 10 times we come across deer and it certainly isn't intentionally!
All my dogs have cat bells on their collars because I hate them hunting!
I was told this morning that there is a group of people after me because they have seen my dogs chasing deer and that they have informed the RSPCA and I just wanted to know what my rights were.It doesn't matter where I walk my dogs 9 out of 10 times we come across deer and it certainly isn't intentionally!
The onus would be on the RSPCA to prove a case against you - they have to prove a positive, you do not have to prove a negative. It would be incredibly difficult for them to prove 'intent' (not least because you are innocent!) but, as others have said, the most worrying aspect is your whippets safety.
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The RSPCA can't do anything to you but the Police can.
I've heard of people whose pet dogs give chase to deer/fox/hare and they have been prosecuted for hunting on the basis that the owners knew the dogs would give chase to wildlife yet they still let them run free thereby giving the dogs opportunity to hunt. Pleading innocence because you didn't intend the dogs to give chase is no defence when you have released them (even more so when nosey parkers give statements saying it happens regularly).
It doesn't matter whether it's one dog or several.
It would still be a difficult case to prove in court for the Police and not many get convicted but is it really worth the stress you'd be under.
btw if your dogs did catch an illegal quarry and the plod turned up right then (unlikely but possible) then they can seize the dog(s) pending prosecution, if you lose the dog is pts.
As others have said, there is also the risk of your dog getting injured by the deer or chasing onto a road and getting run over.
I've heard of people whose pet dogs give chase to deer/fox/hare and they have been prosecuted for hunting on the basis that the owners knew the dogs would give chase to wildlife yet they still let them run free thereby giving the dogs opportunity to hunt. Pleading innocence because you didn't intend the dogs to give chase is no defence when you have released them (even more so when nosey parkers give statements saying it happens regularly).
It doesn't matter whether it's one dog or several.
It would still be a difficult case to prove in court for the Police and not many get convicted but is it really worth the stress you'd be under.
btw if your dogs did catch an illegal quarry and the plod turned up right then (unlikely but possible) then they can seize the dog(s) pending prosecution, if you lose the dog is pts.
As others have said, there is also the risk of your dog getting injured by the deer or chasing onto a road and getting run over.
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Cant believe some of the posts on here, you say you don't hunt, but everywhere you go there are Deer,
Its not rocket science, find somewhere where there are no Deer,
or keep them on a leash,
end of story sorted.
Its not rocket science, find somewhere where there are no Deer,
or keep them on a leash,
end of story sorted.
you are very right there i know someone who was prosecuted by the rspca after someone phoned on their mobile because their dogs were off a lead and supposedly chasing hares the fact is the dogs were out in an area they are regularly walked and hares are known to be but wernt on that day and acctually they were told it was up to themselves to prove they didnt do it not the other way about as the rspca had turned up on information from someone else. the law isnt always as easy and sensible as some would believe
I knew there would be one!"Keep them on a leash" haha, why should I?I can't give them the exercise they need on a lead.I love going off into the woods and exploring and that is no fun if you're being dragged around by 3 dogs!Do you think I should drive to the city twice a day to give them a street walk where there is no chance of bumping into deer?
I have lived in semi-rural countryside for 9 years and this is the first time I have had this problem.There seems to be an abundance of Deer.
I love all animals and I am well known for that where I live. I would rather the do-gooders spent their energy trying to find the Badger Baiters up here!
I have lived in semi-rural countryside for 9 years and this is the first time I have had this problem.There seems to be an abundance of Deer.
I love all animals and I am well known for that where I live. I would rather the do-gooders spent their energy trying to find the Badger Baiters up here!
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What about re-training the dogs to ignore deer like people do with stock-proofing dogs.
You'd need to take each dog individually and break the cycle of chasing deer while dog is on the lead, you can progress to letting the log run free once it shows no interest in the deer. Maybe the use of a remote collar to get the dogs attention should it forget the fiirst few times you take the lead off.
You'd need to take each dog individually and break the cycle of chasing deer while dog is on the lead, you can progress to letting the log run free once it shows no interest in the deer. Maybe the use of a remote collar to get the dogs attention should it forget the fiirst few times you take the lead off.
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I've been out today and was amazed at the amount of deer about
and clearly seen from the busy roads at mid-day, we often see
one or two that have been knocked down at the roadside
But seldom see as many as we did today parading around.
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Well said!! :thumbsup:
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knew there would be one!"Keep them on a leash" haha, why should I?I can't give them the exercise they need on a lead.I love going off into the woods and exploring and that is no fun if you're being dragged around by 3 dogs!Do you think I should drive to the city twice a day to give them a street walk where there is no chance of bumping into deer?
Its all about knowing the Land, I live in South West Scotland that has had a heavy deer population for years, but I could still take you to ground where, the chance of Deer would be slim,
Why don't you keep out of Woods, Deer hide in woods during the day, coming out at dusk to feed,
So if you are going to let Dogs run through woods, I would say the chances of coming across them would be high,
there must be somewhere local to you, that you could let them have a run,
I was just given you a bit of advice, but I would say, if you continue to run your Dogs in woods they will again come in contact, and I would not be surprised if they bring one down, and then you face the consequences.
Its all about knowing the Land, I live in South West Scotland that has had a heavy deer population for years, but I could still take you to ground where, the chance of Deer would be slim,
Why don't you keep out of Woods, Deer hide in woods during the day, coming out at dusk to feed,
So if you are going to let Dogs run through woods, I would say the chances of coming across them would be high,
there must be somewhere local to you, that you could let them have a run,
I was just given you a bit of advice, but I would say, if you continue to run your Dogs in woods they will again come in contact, and I would not be surprised if they bring one down, and then you face the consequences.
We have Roe deer everywhere at the moment, they must be about the most irritating creatures ever, they can appear out of nowhere.
I do tend to restrict my lurchers offlead to 'safe' areas, but there are no guarantees. I had them all offlead the other day in a field where I've walked for 10 years - also used by a lot of other dogwalkers - I've never seen a deer there before, but noticed 'something' by the far hedge. I called the dogs back and just managed to get their leads on before 3 deer took off across the field.
It is a worry, Jess and Sophie would chase (and I'd rather not put Taz to the test if a the girls were chasing, he hasn't got much of a brain of his own ) and round here that would very quickly put them in amongst livestock or across roads so I really can't take the chance. My dogs are all getting elderly now, so a quick blow-off in the fields then going onlead when we strike off across farmland/woods is fine for them, but I don't know how I'd manage with youngsters. Much as I love my sighthounds I'm seriously thinking that breeds with less prey drive would be a better bet in future.
I do tend to restrict my lurchers offlead to 'safe' areas, but there are no guarantees. I had them all offlead the other day in a field where I've walked for 10 years - also used by a lot of other dogwalkers - I've never seen a deer there before, but noticed 'something' by the far hedge. I called the dogs back and just managed to get their leads on before 3 deer took off across the field.
It is a worry, Jess and Sophie would chase (and I'd rather not put Taz to the test if a the girls were chasing, he hasn't got much of a brain of his own
) and round here that would very quickly put them in amongst livestock or across roads so I really can't take the chance. My dogs are all getting elderly now, so a quick blow-off in the fields then going onlead when we strike off across farmland/woods is fine for them, but I don't know how I'd manage with youngsters. Much as I love my sighthounds I'm seriously thinking that breeds with less prey drive would be a better bet in future.
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the law only have to find you guilty with intent to go looking for . so its very hard to get away with your dogs chacing any game i myself have falling foul to that law and was fined 350 quid so just keep your dogs on lead
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My two watched these deer just now on our walk, luckily both are obedient enough (so far) not to chase!
Just say that to the police or RSPCA should you have an 'incident'.
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