Lambs savaged to death in dog attack
Photo for illustration purposes only
CARLOW IFA has called on dog owners to take responsibility following a vicious dog attack on a flock of sheep, leaving 80 young lambs and three ewes mauled to death. The savage attack is believed to have happened over two days at Killerig, Carlow, severely traumatising a flock of ewes and their young lambs.
“I was talking to the farmer and 80 lambs and three ewes were killed, but as a result of the attack he now has 14 pet lambs because some ewes were left so traumatised they are no longer milking,” said Marian Dalton, chair of Carlow IFA’s sheep committee.
“The farmer lives away from where this happened, so the attack took place over two days. I do know the gardaí are involved,” she added.
Currently in the midst of lambing season, this latest attack is not an isolated incident.
“Unfortunately, this is happening all the time; we are hearing it from sheep farmers everywhere in the county. Dogs left off leads and worrying sheep … people just not taking responsibility for their dogs,” said Marian.
“There is a good bit of work in owning a dog, and look, we are all animal lovers, but if you can’t do the work involved in owning a dog, then really you shouldn’t have them,” said Marian.
Marian pointed out that if an out-of-control dog is found in a field worrying sheep, the dog will be shot and farmers are entitled to do so.
“It’s a terrible position to put the farmer in, because they understand how much a dog means to a family, but it is also terrible to go in and see your sheep dead, obviously financially but also emotionally … it’s an awful thing,” she added.
Marian called for tougher legislation to deal with the issue, pointing out that a high burden of proof is required to identify the offending dogs.
“Some people do come forward and admit it was their dog and pay for the sheep, but unfortunately that is very scarce on the ground,” she said. “You have to take responsibility for your dog and any dog can potentially cause this. It’s fun for them, but it’s the farmer who has to deal with the result.”
