Karla McKechnie

Livestock protection officer on Dartmoor working for Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society and Dartmoor Commoners' Council. Focus on stock worrying by dogs .

[Kate Ashbrook @CampaignerKate]

Brilliant but harrowing 60th annual report from Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society: dog attacks on sheep, road-traffic accidents, dangerous garden-waste, with swift & effective 24/7 responses from @dartmoorkarla livestock protection officer @dartmoornpa @DartmoorDPA

[Rural Affairs Team @DCPoliceRural_D]

Our #TakeTheLead campaign to prevent #LivestockWorrying has taken us to farmland & open moorland near Cadover on #Dartmoor, with @Ivybridgepolice & key partners today. If you see new signs, they are reminders that a dog not under control can easily cause a problem for #livestock

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

@DCPoliceRural_D @TavistockPolice @RangerDartmoor @dartmoornpa @DartmoorNT @natsheep @tavistocktimes @DartmoorShep @Dartmoor_Farms @DartmoorFarmers @nfum_NewtonA Great to be out with you all today !

[Rural Affairs Team @DCPoliceRural_D]

Supporting @TavistockPolice & @RangerDartmoor to prevent #LivestockWorrying on #Dartmoor. Most #dogwalkers were pleased to see us & were responsible around #livestock. Sadly, there were still some examples of #antisocial behaviour impacting grazing #sheep. Please #TakeTheLead 🐕‍🦺

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

7 ponies hit on Dartmoor roads in the last week, 5 were either killed or had to be put to sleep.
Dartmoor … a home to a vast number of animals where they should be able to live in safety!

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

@ChrisBuckland6 Amazing!

[Rural Affairs Team @DCPoliceRural_D]

It's astounding how some #dog owners can be so inconsiderate & selfish as we've yet more #sheep attacked on #Dartmoor. There's no place for the misconception that YOUR dog won't chase or attack #livestock.
#LivestockWorrying is a crime & it's YOU who's liable for the consequences

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

@NWPRuralCrime Nope, not my area!

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

@CampaignerKate @RamblersGB @openspacessoc @Campaign4Parks What wonderful memories ❤️

[Rural Affairs Team @DCPoliceRural_D]

Every year 100s of animals are killed on #Dartmoor roads following involvement in road traffic collisions with most going unreported to police. The speed limit is 40mph on most of the moorland roads but drivers should be aware of the #livestock, pass slowly & be prepared to stop

[Rural Affairs Team @DCPoliceRural_D]

If in a road traffic collision involving #livestock you must report it to @DC_Police. Please also advise the #Dartmoor Livestock Protection Officer so the welfare of the animal can be checked. Here are some tips for driving safely on Dartmoor's #RuralRoads. #DriveWithMOORCare 🐏

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

Swallows are here!

[Rural Affairs Team @DCPoliceRural_D]

Calling all dog walkers. This week DCPoliceRural_D were busy out in West Dartmoor and North Devon Exmoor raising awareness of livestock worrying. If you see it report it. Help us #TakeTheLead 🐑+🐕=🙁. 🐑+🦮=🙂.

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

Saw a wonderful redstart this morning... a little early?

[Rural Affairs Team @DCPoliceRural_D]

Giving an input to #RuralCrime Specials on #LivestockWorrying & discussing #forensic opportunities when deploying to reported incidents.
If walking your #dog near #livestock, keep it on a lead or under close control. Be a responsible #DogWalker & #TakeTheLead
🐑+🐕=☹️, 🐑+🦮=😊

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

Plenty of water over Dartmoor these last couple of days, rivers are swollen and skies are pretty grey.
Still raining hard ....

[Carl Bovis @CarlBovisNature]

Who has ever seen a Bittern? 🤔
A rare and very elusive bird of extensive reedbeds, they're more often heard than seen, your best chance of a view is when they fly, such as this one, although they only tend to fly for short distances before flopping back down into the reeds. 😊

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

Please keep dogs on leads when visiting Dartmoor.
More than 20 dog attacks on livestock already this year and lambing is fast approaching 🙏

[Karla McKechnie @dartmoorkarla]

Lots of out of control dogs on Dartmoor over the last few weeks .
Please can people keep their dogs on leads around livestock...