Farmer Tom Trueman from Devon recently found himself at the centre of a bizarre incident involving the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). The 42-year-old beef and sheep farmer was contacted by the charity after he was accused of 'sheep worrying', a term used to describe the act of a dog disturbing or harming a flock of sheep. However, Trueman's case is a clear example of a misunderstanding, as he was simply moving his flock from one field to another.
According to Trueman, the incident occurred on a Sunday in May when he was herding his sheep across the yard. Some of the animals broke free and ended up on a nearby road, prompting him to send his dog out to round them up and bring them back home. Two weeks later, Trueman received a letter from the RSPCA, but he was quick to clear up the misunderstanding after contacting the charity. 'A dog rounding up sheep might look like it's sheep worrying - if it's not a collie dog with a farmer next to it,' he explained.
Trueman believes that this incident highlights the growing gap between rural and urban communities. 'People don't seem to understand what a farmer actually does,' he said. He urged anyone who witnesses a sheep worrying incident to stop and ask the person involved, suggesting that it is essential to establish the context before making any assumptions.
The RSPCA has stated that it is grateful for reports of suspected animal suffering, but it also acknowledged that it may not always be necessary to publicise the information. In this case, the charity ultimately concluded that there was no need to worry, and Trueman was relieved to have the matter cleared up.