dog on lead – Cattle Safety

Walker frightened by cattle near Aldbury

Case No. 1159

Date of Incident 14 07 2025

Location On footpath on the outskirts of Aldbury, Hertfordsire, England

I person, 1 dog – on lead

Account “I was on my usual early morning dog walk that includes a field that had recently had a herd of black cows put in it. I’d been nervous of walking through it ever since, but a friend persuaded me cows are completely harmless and we walked through together and she demonstrated how to make my arms wide and make a loud strange noise if I felt threatened by them, which would warn them away.

Lottie is shouted at for walking along a public footpath

Case No. 1156

Date of Incident 03 07 2025

Location: On PROW between Germoe and Porthleven, Cornwall. WtW – ample.lateral.dreamers

I person and 1 dog

Group of bullocks

Lottie’s account “I was following a marked footpath, my dog was on a lead. There were no signs about cows. I entered the field and then went along the path to an opening on the path which joins to the next field. In that field were bullocks who quickly stood up and came towards me. I felt I couldn’t escape so I stood on a wall and had to call for help. The farmer arrived after 15 minutes and shouted at me saying it was my fault for entering a field with cows when I had a dog. He lead the cows away so I could walk out of the field. My dog is safe with livestock. There are no signs warning that over 20 bullocks are on the footpath, there is no safe place to escape them and they surrounded us.”

“I was frightened.”

Carol and her child had to escape via barbed wire and nettles

Incident number: 1108
Response ID 314,539,408
Date of incident: 17/05/2025
Location: Beal, Goole, River Aire bank

Incident report: I was walking along the footpath with my 10 year old child and my dog on a lead. Cows were on top of river bank, we were on the lower part of the river bank with the dog quietly on the lead. The cows came running at us.

I let the dog off the lead & he ran off & most of the cows followed, we ran to the barbed wire fence. Our dog came back to us & the cows came running & kicking out at us! My 10 year old climbed through the barbed wire which had already been stretched (possibly by someone else trying to escape from the cattle?) I then had to climb through & stand in a ditch full of nettles & brambles hoping the cows would go away. They didn’t so I had to trample the way through with both of us getting stung severely! We then had to make our way through a corn field back to the path. My 10 year old is very distraught!

Child, footpath and boisterous cows!

Response ID 311,442,303
Incident number 1064
Date: 30.11.24
Site: Davenham, ///birds.intruders.storm
Type of cow: Group of bullocks
Dog: On lead at beginning of the incident.

Account: “I was walking with my 5 year old daughter and our Jack Russell terrier along a public footpath through the field. A cow started bucking it’s back legs and snorting at us. I told my five year old to run to the gate and I dropped the dog lead to run behind her. We managed to escape unscathed that day but it was an incredibly scary experience and I now avoid that field if the cows are present. I don’t think cows should be allowed on fields with footpaths.”

Julia didn’t know who to contact about a dangerous cow in Hawkshead

Incident number 1063
Response ID 311,396,400
Public Right of Way: Y
Date: 26.08.24
Site: Hawkshead, Cumbria

Julia Dixon has written this account: “We were walking along a public footpath when my husband was butted by a cow with a calf who approached from the middle of the field. He was pushed into the fence and bruised. The cow also butted the dog who fell over and the cow went to try and crush our dog with its head. My husband kicked the cow to save the dog, and luckily the cow backed off. My husband escaped with minor cuts and bruising.

I wanted to contact the farmer and local people as this is a well used footpath, but I did not know who I needed to contact. The footpath leads directly into Hawkshead Village which is full of tourists in summer.”

Julia adds a list of suggestions that would improve safety (Killer Cows agree with her) –

*Fencing – even electric fences which are portable and very cheap to install and run. We use them for horses.

*Footpaths could be diverted around the edge of the field of the field if necessary where they usually run through the middle.

*Warning on the gate and phone number for farmers.

*Proper recording for incidents with farmers liable.

Mum and Daughter narrowly escaped charging cattle.

Incident number 1061
Response ID 311,395,044
Date: 1.11.24
Site: ///remit.page.code

It happened on a public foot path off the allotments in Upton St Leonards Village in Gloucestershire

Account: We entered the public footpath via the gate from the allotments. My 7 year old daughter and I and our dog on the lead started walking along the path. Within seconds of being in the field however the group of cows at the far end of the field (complete opposite side to where the public footpath is) started charging at us. Knowing the dangers of cows I quickly grabbed hold of my daughter and threw her back over the gate. In a state of panic I struggled to open the gate, only just opening it as the cows were right on top of me. I got through and closed the gate with the dog before they could cause any harm. It left my daughter in floods of tears from fright, she is now terrified of cows (and she is an animal lover) she had nightmares that night from it. We have not used that public footpath again from fear.

Mum comments: Warnings should be put on gates if there are cattle in fields that have public footpaths through them.

Dreadful attack along the Rochdale Canal

Response ID 308,860,893

Report number 1032

Date of incident: 30/06/23

Location: Alongside the canal at Smithybridge (Hollingworth lake, Rochdale)

Account: “I was dog walking along the canal at Smithybridge. It is a tarmac public footpath, which cars use as a short cut. I had 2 frenchie dogs on leads, not barking. There was one cow half on the path and I was wondering whether to walk behind or turn round and take the 2 mile walk back instead. When I got to approx 5ft from it, it backed up a couple of steps completely blocking the path. When I turned to go back there were approx 8 more behind me. As soon as I turned they started scraping their hooves and mooing. I let go of the dogs, next thing I knew I was knocked (luckily) into a ditch.

I curled up into a fetal ball whilst they circled and tried to stamp on me. The noise was horrendous, I really didn’t think I would survive. Then it went quiet. I was afraid to even look up. I crawled in agony to the cattle grid ( I don’t know the distance but it took me about 30 mins). The dogs were sat waiting. I called a friend to come for me. We took the dogs back to the house and then she took me to hospital. I had 4 fractured ribs, a fractured collar bone and a bust ankle. I stayed overnight but had to look after the dogs, so signed myself out the next day. I called the police to see if they needed it on record…they said no it’s a civil matter.”

She adds “I would like the adverts on tv where there are men/woman stroking cows in a field to stop.”

Welsh Coastal path close call – saved by a dog

Response ID 309,843,934

Incident number 1041
Date of incident: 9/11/24
Location: Welsh Coastal path between Pembrey forest and Kidwelly https://w3w.co/inspector.lecturers.provoking

Description: Two of us were heading back after a long walk about 5pm, it had gotten dark. We met 2 young men coming towards us who warned us that cows had charged at them and they were now trying to find another way home, they did not have a dog with them. We had already walked 13 miles with less than 1 to go till we got to the car, plus we thought they might have been exaggerating, so we continued on.

“We came upon some cows that were blocking the path and going around them wasn’t an option (the surrounding area is wet) so we approached calmly but as soon as they’d seen us they started to approach, some faster than others and they charged then stopped, then charged then stopped. Their behaviour was very threatening. I put the light on my phone and used it to dazzle them and try get them to back off while walking backwards. I had my dog on lead who was calm and controlled initially, but when the cattle had basically surrounded us he started to bark and push them back, we had to continue to walk backwards because every time we turned they would charge. They eventually stopped following us but then we came across another group of about 20-30 blocking the path and had to go through it all again, I’m honestly not sure what would have happened if our dog hadn’t protected us.”
“I absolutely believe that our dog saved us and if something had happened to us we were in middle of nowhere and nobody would have found us for some time.”

Killer Cows notes this attack is on the same stretch of the coastal path as Glyn Austin’s attack – it appears that no safety measures have been introduced.

https://killercows.co.uk/2023/10/12/glyn-austins-tale-attack-on-welsh-coastal-path/

Cee wants footpaths kept open with electric fencing if cattle are in a field with a footpath.

Response ID 309,769,038

Report number 1040
Date: 8/11/24
Location: imported.perch.cursing Field between long lane and Ennys lane, St Hilary, Cornwall
Cows with calves in the field.

Description: I was walking my dog on a footpath across the field, she was on a lead, she is scared of cows so was pulling away from them. We got herded into the hedge by the cattle and then I got head butted and knocked over. I managed to get out of the field but then realised my phone had been knocked out of my pocket so I had to go back. I tied Kenza up and went to look for it. Unfortunately I was knocked over again and then there was a sustained attack by two or three of them. I really thought my number was up. They were trampling me and head butting. They only stopped when I stopped moving and I eventually managed to crawl to a gateway and escape into another field.”

“I have chipped a tooth, another is very wobbly. I had a nose bleed. I am covered in bruises and can barely walk. This has only just happened so I am not sure of the extent of my injuries.”

Update: Cee has now been assessed at hospital and found to have broken ribs and a broken vertebra as a result of the cow attack – these are significant and serious injuries that will take time to recover from!

Cee would like “warning signs when there are cows with calves in fields with footpaths and footpaths kept open with electric fencing, with fines for farmers who don’t do this.”