h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When walking through an area with livestock, you must always keep your dog on a tight leash.

You might think that your dog off of the leash is just running around and having fun, indeed your dog probably believes this too. But the livestock in the field most certainly won't. Every year some 24,000 sheep are either killed or injured by dogs.

It is also in your financial interests to keep your dog under control, because if you're caught with a dog that is worrying sheep, you can be prosecuted under the 1953 Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act. One of the provisions under this Act as that the farmer or landowner has the right to shoot your dog on sight. If he hasn't got his gun to hand, then he can demand that the dog be destroyed by a vet at a later date.

If you are lucky and the farmer doesn't shoot your beloved best friend, don't argue about whether the field is a footpath field or any other such nonsense. Just remove yourself and your dog, now on a lead, from the vacinity. I have been with a farmer when we were rounding up sheep and a couple had their dog of a lead. They tried argueing that they had every right to be there as the field had a footpath. They went very pale when the farmer told one of the farmhands to go to the LandRover and get the gun. They also left the field very quickly, hopefully having learned their lesson. Needless to say there was no gun in the vehicle.
Wick