File picture of sheep (Pexels)
A man has been banned from keeping dogs for 10 years after repeatedly allowing his dogs to stray and cause havoc in the local community.
Ross Jan Stone’s dogs killed 22 sheep and caused near-misses on the roads while roaming free. It is also claimed that the dogs killed cats and pet rabbits.
In May 2024, Stone, of Coopeage Farm, Trewoon, St Austell, was issued a Community Protection Notice after his dogs were collected on multiple occasions by Cornwall Council’s stray dog service.
Despite the order, he continued to allow his dogs to stray and cause a nuisance. In December 2024 he was found guilty of five charges of breaching the Community Protection Notice and was ordered to pay £13,000 in fines and costs.
On Tuesday March 25, 2025, Cornwall Council applied to Bodmin Magistrates’ Court for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to prevent Stone keeping dogs.
The magistrates heard about the ongoing harassment, alarm or distress caused to the community due to the dogs being allowed to roam free.
The Council presented evidence that Stone’s dogs had killed multiple sheep. During an attack which involved three of Stone’s dogs, 22 sheep were killed and six others had to be put down due to their injuries. Two of the three dogs involved in the attack were also put down. The third dog was not found.
The court also heard allegations made on social media that Stone’s dogs were responsible for killing cats and pet rabbits.
In July 2023, Stone was prosecuted by the RSPCA and convicted of neglect and causing unnecessary suffering to another dog belonging to him, the magistrates were told.
Stone, who did not attend the hearing, was given a Criminal Behaviour Order which bans his from keeping or owning dogs for 10 years. He has 21 days to rehome his dogs or pass them over to the Council.
It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, including at home or in public.
It is also legal requirement for all dogs to wear an ID collar and a microchip linked to the current owner’s contact information. More information on updating microchip details and ID tags can be found on the Cornwall Council website.
Press release issued on March 31, 2025