A man has been prohibited from owning dogs for 10 years after his pets killed nearly 30 sheep on a farm in Cornwall. Ross Stone’s dogs were also responsible for causing road accidents and were accused of attacking other animals, including cats and rabbits, as court proceedings revealed.
Despite receiving a Community Protection Notice in May 2024 for letting his dogs roam unsupervised, Mr. Stone continued to disregard the law. In December 2024, he was convicted of violating the notice on five occasions, resulting in a £13,000 fine.
The case took a significant turn when Cornwall Council obtained a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) against Mr. Stone on March 25, 2025, at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court. The order was issued in response to the continued damage and distress caused by his dogs.
The court was presented with evidence of multiple attacks on livestock, including one incident where three of Mr. Stone’s dogs killed 22 sheep, leading to the euthanization of six more. Two of the dogs involved were euthanized, while the third was never located.
Additionally, Mr. Stone had a previous conviction from July 2023 for neglecting and causing unnecessary suffering to another dog. Mr. Stone, who was absent during the hearing, has been given 21 days to either rehome his dogs or surrender them to Cornwall Council.
According to NFU Mutual, dog attacks on farm animals in 2024 caused losses amounting to nearly £1.8 million, a 26% decrease from the previous year. The Midlands region experienced the highest costs, with an estimated £452,000 in damages, followed by the southwest at £225,000.
Under UK law, dogs must not be dangerously out of control, and owners are required to ensure their dogs are properly identified with an ID collar and an up-to-date microchip.