Calderdale's irresponsible dog owners leaves 12 pregnant ewes dead

Peter Hunt, chairman of the Ripponden Parish Council, is worried about the alarming increase in visitors driving to Ripponden to walk their dogs, specifically with the Soyland ward of the Parish.

Mr Hunt has said visitors are not just breaking government lockdown rules, but said groups of walkers are causing environment damage and a lack of community safety.

He said: "Of particular concern is the death of 12 healthy pregnant ewes on farmland.

"This is on account of them consuming dog faeces from dogs belonging to the walkers who let them loose on fields."

Mr Hunt said the parish council have released the following statement as a public notice.

The notice said: "Ripponden Parish Council has received reports of a substantial number of people travelling to Soyland for personal exercise and to walk their dog during the lockdown period.

"This unusual situation has had a severe impact upon Soyland residents.

"Local farmers are suffering grave losses of rare breed livestock.

"Sheep, specifically pregnant ewes, have been poisoned by dog faeces left on fields.

"Other residents describe people rambling through private gardens, yards, farms and places of business, making it difficult for them to conform to government social distancing instructions.

"One elderly lady even faced verbal abuse from individuals that entered her private yard and loitered by her kitchen window.

"There are also reports of people petting animals and horses they encounter on their walks, in breach of infection control measures.

"We understand that the current circumstances are difficult for everyone."

Mr Hunt acknowledged the public have had to make changes, including the farming neighbours of Soyland, which have taken drastic measures to conform to lockdown instructions and keep people and animals safe.

Councillor Susan Press, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said: “We should only be going out for very limited, essential reasons, including one form of exercise a day, alone or with the people we live with.

"Walking the dog counts as the once-a-day outdoor exercise that we can do.

"We urge people to do this in line with social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we always encourage responsible ownership and keeping dogs under control.

"We know that the majority of dog owners in Calderdale are careful, but failing to clean up after your dog when it has fouled in certain areas is an offence and we won’t hesitate to take enforcement action.”