Dog owners in a no-win situation if sheep wander on to their property

The sheep which keep wandering onto Nicole's property. Photo/ Supplied

A Hastings woman who had to keep her dogs inside her house for two weeks, because sheep were wandering on to her property, has exposed a little-known liability rule.

Middle Rd resident Nicole, who asked for her last name not to be used, had no choice but to keep her dogs housebound as scores of sheep, assisted by a broken farm fence, wandered on to her property.

She was in what she described as a "no-win situation". Her dogs, a kelpie cross and a labrador cross, were distressed at being kept inside and her property, including her car, was being damaged by the sheep.

Nicole lives near one of the farms hit by a spate of attacks on sheep around Hastings this winter.

When she spoke to Hastings District Council she was told that she would be likely be liable if the dogs were let out and attacked the sheep, even if they were on her property at the time, Nicole said.

The council has taken a strong stance with dog owners since a spate of sheep attacks in June-July in which 143 sheep were killed in different locations, causing financial and emotional distress to landowners.

"There have been so many articles about dog owners being bad but there's our side of the story too," Nicole said.

"Sheep from next door have been wandering on to my property every day because the neighbouring property's fence is broken.

"They come around 7am every day and wreak havoc."

Sheep poo "for miles" and scratch marks on her car bonnet are other issues she's had to contend with.

She said she had been to animal control regarding regulations and was told essentially the same thing.

"Even if a sheep wanders on to my property I am at fault."

Thankfully, for Nicole, the outcome was positive with the next-door farmer getting in touch after Hawke's Bay Today inquiries.

"I'm pleased the farmer came and spoke to me, and the sheep won't be back until March 2020."

The farmer, who just wants to go by Brett, said he did not know about the sheep wandering off until Wednesday.

"Animal control rang me up on Wednesday afternoon and I moved them out of there on Thursday morning.

"We didn't know the fence was buggered down the back, otherwise we definitely would have done something about it.

"Now there will be no more sheep in there until March/April next year and we will make sure the fence is definitely fixed."

Hastings District Council's regulatory solutions manager John Payne said if dogs do attack sheep on the dog owner's property, the dog owner will be held liable.

"Farmers do need to keep their sheep confined, but just because they get out doesn't give the dogs the right to attack them."

Last month Hastings District Council laid charges against the owners of eight dogs who mauled more than 100 stock between June and July.