No shootonsight on dogs says ifa chief

Paul Neilan

The head of the IFA in the county says there is no “shoot on sight” policy over stray dogs, despite the claims of a Sunday newspaper.
Chairman Jim Spears says the the Sunday World article, in which he is quoted, refers to a conversation he had on Northern Sound and that he stands by the sentiments of the interview in which he said farmers could not cope with any more lamb or sheep losses, he adds that the paper never contacted him.
The Sunday World story, which still appears online, is headlined 'Farmers issue “shoot on sight” warning to dog owners after attacks on sheep in Cavan/Monaghan area’ and quotes the IFA man as saying: “These losses are an unacceptable blow for any farmer. It is imperative all dogs are kept under strict control, so that further losses are prevented.”
Mr Spears told the Celt that “there is definitely no shoot-on-sight policy on stray dogs” with his members but that it was his understanding that farmers, under law, could shoot dogs that were attacking, harrassing or chasing sheep.
The comments come after two recent sheep-kills in Cootehill and Monaghan but the IFA man is urging people to be vigilant regarding dogs, who, he says, “think they are only playing with the sheep, they don’t eat them, it’s the same as if they were playing with a toy or a teddy”.
The paper says that farmers made their warning “public” but the IFA man says that none of his members have approached him in this manner.
The paper further claims that farmers said they would shoot all stray dogs, near their lands, which is illegal and that gardaí “in Cavan appealed to both sheep farmers and dog owners to remain vigilant and they also urged members of the public to report any sightings of stray dogs in the area”.
Cavan Gardaí, however, told the Celt that regarding strays people should contact the dog warden and that, regarding shootings, should contact gardaí in relation to legally-held firearms issues.