My dog was injured by an electric shock from the fence.
On the 5th of May, 2020, I was walking with my dog on a lead along the Reservoir Walk, near the Welford Reservoir in Northamptonshire.
I saw a group of cows in a field, and they had calves with them. Before we reached the field, the cows saw us coming and walked towards us (led by one particular cow). They walked quickly and were making quite a lot of noise.
Continue reading “Christine’s story: turned back by cows”First reported death this year of a walker killed by cattle in the UK
[We are sad to report the first death this year of a walker killed by cattle in the UK.]
On the 30th May, a couple of elderly walkers were strolling through a field near Ingleborough, when they were attacked by a herd of cows. Tragically, the man died of his injuries. The woman was severely bruised, but survived.
According to the outdoors magazine ‘Grough‘, the walkers had two small terriers with them. According to other reports, the cows had calves which they may have been protecting. Read the BBC news report of the incident, which was also reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post.
While hundreds of people are dying every day from this horrible Covid-19 virus, it is easy to forget that the peaceful fields of England can contain hidden dangers too.
As the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions begin to ease, we urge people to be careful, and continue to report cattle attacks to us.
You can read some of our advice for walkers here.
Header photo by Gary Butterfield on Unsplash
It charged, and we ran for our lives.
On the 10th September, I was walking along a public footpath in a field between Bidborough Woods and Southborough Woods in Kent. I was on my own with my dog and saw no warning signs about cattle. There was long grass on either side of the path, and my dog was about 20 feet behind me. Continue reading “Mike’s Story – charged by a cow”
They went for my dog, and then surrounded me.
On the 23rd July 2019, I was walking with my dog on a public footpath along the western shore of Coniston, in the Lake District. We encountered a group of cows on the footpath. They went for my dog, and then surrounded me, pushing me from cow to cow. Continue reading “Abigail’s story: pushed from cow to cow”
I lifted my legs up and started kicking the attacking cows in the face
On the 8th September, this year, I was walking on a public footpath near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. I was on my own with my dog on a lead.
I saw a group of cows were in the field I was about to enter. They were heifers and brown in colour. I normally have no problem dealing with cows, so I entered and began to walk across the field. Continue reading “Andy’s story: knocked down on a walk”
I was knocked to the ground, and repeatedly kicked and head butted
On the 11th August this year, I was walking with my dog on a public right of way, near Shipton under Wychwood, Oxfordshire.
I noticed the cows in the distance, and so I called my dog to my side, put her on a short lead and made her walk to heel. She is a Labrador and is used to being walked around livestock. Continue reading “Lucy’s story: Butted and trampled”
We ended up retracing our steps and going through private property to find a road.
On the 3rd July, this year, I was walking with a friend along the South West Coast Path. We had my dog on a lead, and we were on an inland section between Abbotsbury and Chickerell, near Clayhanger Farm. Continue reading “Janet’s walk along the South West Coast Path spoiled by ‘inquisitive’ cattle”
I was headbutted, trampled, and dragged along the ground.
On the 28th February, 2019, I was walking alone with my dog on a lead, along footpath number three below Tutbury Castle , Staffordshire. In the field was a herd of cattle. Initially, I didn’t notice any bulls or calves, but later I realised there were at least two bulls in the field, along with cows, heifers, and bullocks. There were calves present too. They were a mix of breeds, Aberdeen Angus, Charolais and Friesian. Continue reading “Jude’s story: butted and trampled”
The dog was very badly bruised and lucky to be alive.
On the 9th of June, a group of four of us were walking along a footpath from Rockford Common car park (Ringwood, Hampshire). The path runs parallel to the road, and we were heading towards Linwood. We had a dog on a lead.
We spotted a group of brown cows and waited for them to cross the path. We the proceeded to go down the path. Continue reading “Dog trampled and walkers injured”
One particular cow made straight for us.
This September, the two of us were walking on a footpath in the Derbyshire Dales near Throwley Hall, with our dog on a lead.
There were some cows in the field. They were light brown and tan coloured, some a rust colour – possibly Guernsey, although I’m not sure. We are used to livestock and were giving the cows a wide berth so as not to split the herd.
One particular cow made straight for us and came towards our dog, calling very loudly. The rest of the herd began to move towards us too.
My partner shouted at the ‘main’ cow and waved his hands. It turned away momentarily, before turning back and suddenly rushing at my partner. He dropped our dog’s lead and the dog ran off, pursued by the herd.
These cattle were extremely agitated and even after retrieving our dog and getting out of the field, they pursued us to the gate.
I’ve reported the incident to the local authority but, as far as I’m aware, they’re not investigating it further.
The cow put its horns either side of me – and launched me onto the heath land.
In February 2018, I was walking my dog in the New Forest, in Dibden Purlieu, near to the Heath roundabout.
I was walking along the path with my dog walking to heel, when I saw some cows quite a distance away from me. They were small, with really long horns, and looked like Highland Cattle. They were just quietly grazing, and I didn’t feel concerned.
One of the cows seemed to make eye contact with me, came towards me from quite a distance, and started running at me. I turned to go back the way I came to try to avoid it, but next thing it was right up behind me. Continue reading “Carolyn’s Story: another cow attack in the New Forest”
I waved my arms and roared loudly as the cow bore down on us.
My girlfriend, my dog and I were walking along the Wales Coast Path, on the Llyn Peninsula, in June 2018. We passed through a turnstile to find a herd of cows with calves. We proceeded to pass quietly along the path with our dog, aged 8, who has walked in the country with us all his life and never bothers with cattle, horses or sheep.
Keeping an eye on the cattle, I noticed one of the mothers getting agitated and starting to make a noise. She was at least 10 metres away, and she started to stamp and run at myself and our dog. Continue reading “Angry cow on the Wales Coast Path”
Cattle Safety 