A woman whose dogs twice attacked livestock is to attend a responsible dog ownership course, following an investigation by specialist rural engagement officers.
The 79-year-old, from the Brentwood area, has been issued with a conditional caution following the attacks in Navestock and Pilgrims Hatch in September 2025.
The dogs must also be muzzled when in public and always walked on a fixed lead.
Sergeant Callum Barber, of our Rural Engagement Team, explains that livestock owners often simply want to ensure the dogs won’t attack livestock again.
“Conditional cautions are often a good way of resolving the issue. As the offender has admitted what they have done and they have agreed a course of action with the victim which goes some way to putting right the harm caused. If they fail to comply, they can be prosecuted for the original offence,” he says.
“We have found this approach to be very effective at preventing repeat attacks as the person really understands the damage caused by their lack of control over the dogs.”
Two rams were injured by the dogs in Navestock on 7 September 2025. Just days later on the 16th, the dogs killed a goat and injured three others in Pilgrims Hatch.
The terms of the conditional caution are to
- ensure fencing at the dogs’ home is secure
- keep the dogs in a secure compound when no owners are present
- ensure the dogs are muzzled at all times in public
- walk the dogs on a fixed lead – no more than 1.5 metres long – at all times in public
- ensure the dogs are not walked by anyone under 16
- attend a responsible dog ownership course
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