Every Silver Lining Has Its Cloud...

I've been waxing lyrical about our wonderful holiday for a couple of days, but unfortunately it wasn't all spectacular views, marvellous food and friendly faces.

We had the misfortune to run into a family of Revolting Morons on the way back from Ambleside.  We didn't have any trouble with them per se, but there were a few times when I'd quite happily have brained them with my trekking pole.

Our first close encounter was when I nearly got knocked down by a small boy on a mountain bike who was being shadowed by a maniac Jack Russell wearing a coat (let's call the dog 'Ruffy').  Thinking Dog & Boy were together, I was rather annoyed.  Then I realised that the boy's father, who was cycling down the same steep hill, had just narrowly missing crashing into a young black retriever-cross (from henceforth, 'Woofy'). 

I realised then that a family who'd just decanted from a family saloon had brought with them a total of four dogs: Woofy, Ruff, and two more Jack Russells (we'll name them 'Doofy' and 'Muttley').  These animals were haring around like lunatics.  'All good clean fun'  - I hear you cry.  Well, yes, but they nearly took out two cyclists.

This was only the beginning.  As we continued on our way. we kept hearing the echoing barks of Woofy, Doofy, Muttley and Ruff.  

We were being followed. 

We reached the gate to Loughrigg Fell.  There's a big sign there.  It goes something along the lines of: '36 sheep and lambs have been killed this year by dogs.  Keep your dog on a lead or under close control, or the farmer's within his rights to blow the brute to doggy heaven with his shotgun if it's caught attacking his livestock'.

Most of the sheep had been brought down from the Fells for the winter.  But two Herdwicks were loitering by the footpath, minding their own business as we walked past.  We looked at them with some concern, and hung back, fearing the worse.

Our fears were soon realised.  Along came the Revolting Morons.  None of their dogs were on leads, and none of them were under any control whatsoever.  Woofy saw the sheep, set off in close pursuit with a riot of barks while its owner squawked and remonstrated and begged Woofy to come to heel.  No chance.  The distressed sheep wound up running in circles with Woofy nipping at its heels. 

Woofy at last was restrained.  But Ruffy soon took over where Woofy left off.  The rigmarole started again - in weather when the poor sheep who was subject to this assault needed to conserve every calorie it could get (to add insult to injury, it was probably pregnant, too). 

Eventually, the Revolting Morons sorted out their animals.  I don't think the sheep was injured.  At least, I hope it wasn't.  But sheep aren't the smartest of creatures and this particular one must have been really distressed by the experience.  To make matters worse, these blithering idiots had barely left the sheep behind them before they'd let their uncontrollable dogs back off the lead to terrorise something else.

This isn't the first time I've witnessed problems with irresponsible dog-owners in the Lakes.  I've seen dogs attacking sheep on the Fells each year I've been there, and one year I witnessed the gruesome demise of a rabbit which was squealing terribly as a labrador savaged it to death. 

I just cannot understand how their owners can be so careless, so ignorant or so callous as to let it happen. 

I'll post some more nice photos later on, so I don't end on a sour note!  Here's one to go on with: a friend I met who thankfully retreated back to the waters of the Lake before Woofy, Doofy, Muttley and Ruff could disembowel him.  Yeah, I know mute swans can kick ass, but if this guy found himself attacked by four dogs simultaneously, I won't give much for his chances.

Every Silver Lining Has Its Cloud...

I've been waxing lyrical about our wonderful holiday for a couple of days, but unfortunately it wasn't all spectacular views, marvellous food and friendly faces.

We had the misfortune to run into a family of Revolting Morons on the way back from Ambleside.  We didn't have any trouble with them per se, but there were a few times when I'd quite happily have brained them with my trekking pole.

Our first close encounter was when I nearly got knocked down by a small boy on a mountain bike who was being shadowed by a maniac Jack Russell wearing a coat (let's call the dog 'Ruffy').  Thinking Dog & Boy were together, I was rather annoyed.  Then I realised that the boy's father, who was cycling down the same steep hill, had just narrowly missing crashing into a young black retriever-cross (from henceforth, 'Woofy'). 

I realised then that a family who'd just decanted from a family saloon had brought with them a total of four dogs: Woofy, Ruff, and two more Jack Russells (we'll name them 'Doofy' and 'Muttley').  These animals were haring around like lunatics.  'All good clean fun'  - I hear you cry.  Well, yes, but they nearly took out two cyclists.

This was only the beginning.  As we continued on our way. we kept hearing the echoing barks of Woofy, Doofy, Muttley and Ruff.  

We were being followed. 

We reached the gate to Loughrigg Fell.  There's a big sign there.  It goes something along the lines of: '36 sheep and lambs have been killed this year by dogs.  Keep your dog on a lead or under close control, or the farmer's within his rights to blow the brute to doggy heaven with his shotgun if it's caught attacking his livestock'.

Most of the sheep had been brought down from the Fells for the winter.  But two Herdwicks were loitering by the footpath, minding their own business as we walked past.  We looked at them with some concern, and hung back, fearing the worse.

Our fears were soon realised.  Along came the Revolting Morons.  None of their dogs were on leads, and none of them were under any control whatsoever.  Woofy saw the sheep, set off in close pursuit with a riot of barks while its owner squawked and remonstrated and begged Woofy to come to heel.  No chance.  The distressed sheep wound up running in circles with Woofy nipping at its heels. 

Woofy at last was restrained.  But Ruffy soon took over where Woofy left off.  The rigmarole started again - in weather when the poor sheep who was subject to this assault needed to conserve every calorie it could get (to add insult to injury, it was probably pregnant, too). 

Eventually, the Revolting Morons sorted out their animals.  I don't think the sheep was injured.  At least, I hope it wasn't.  But sheep aren't the smartest of creatures and this particular one must have been really distressed by the experience.  To make matters worse, these blithering idiots had barely left the sheep behind them before they'd let their uncontrollable dogs back off the lead to terrorise something else.

This isn't the first time I've witnessed problems with irresponsible dog-owners in the Lakes.  I've seen dogs attacking sheep on the Fells each year I've been there, and one year I witnessed the gruesome demise of a rabbit which was squealing terribly as a labrador savaged it to death. 

I just cannot understand how their owners can be so careless, so ignorant or so callous as to let it happen. 

I'll post some more nice photos later on, so I don't end on a sour note!  Here's one to go on with: a friend I met who thankfully retreated back to the waters of the Lake before Woofy, Doofy, Muttley and Ruff could disembowel him.  Yeah, I know mute swans can kick ass, but if this guy found himself attacked by four dogs simultaneously, I won't give much for his chances.

On a Lighter Note...

Here's some more atmospheric photos - to lighten the mood after my last post!!

 

 

 

On a Lighter Note...

Here's some more atmospheric photos - to lighten the mood after my last post!!