Rise in sheep worrying incidents
Dog owners across the county have been warned to keep their pets in control following worrying rise in the number of attacks on sheep in recent days.
Reports of such incidents have been reported in both Ballyjamesduff and Virginia, resulting in either death or injury.
A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana locally posted on social media: “This is the lambing season and as a result of such attacks farmers experience huge financial loss not to mention the distress suffered by the sheep.
“If you are a dog owner it is your responsibility to have your dog or dogs under effective control at all times and to have a dog licence. It is also compulsory to have your dog microchipped and wearing a collar that bears the name and the address of the owner at all times.”
They added that many of such attacks occur during the early hours of the morning, noting it is important that all dogs are “secured at night to prohibit them from roaming. If you see dogs worrying sheep please report the matter to your local Garda Station or dog warden.”
Recent incidents
Most recently ICSA sheep chair Sean McNamara suffered an attack on his own flock on New Year's Day last, January 1, where witnesses say two dogs were involved in the killing of four ewes.
Mr McNamara has a flock of several hundred ewes at this farm at Lismacaffrey in Co Westmeath, on the border with Longford and near to Finea.
In early 2018 Mr McNamara lost over 40 ewes during a six-week period, at the attack add to the growing list of such incidents, including those in Co Cavan.
In November 2019 meanwhile, Crubany farmer John Hewitt found two border collies devouring a lamb belonging to him. A second lamb was missing, presumed dead, and after neighbours intervened, one of the dogs was killed.
There were 84 lambs in the field at the time, and the attack was the latest of four John had endured in almost as many month, through which he lost seven lambs killed and a further seven injured. Between mauled livestock and veterinary fees, it was estimated John was left out of pocket to the tune of €1,000.
Earlier in 2019, Daphne Scott from Ballinagh was left devastated when her prized sheep had been attacked not once, but twice in the space of 12 hours.
In total, six sheep were killed, while a further six were injured. The following morning, a dog returned and killed one, while one of the injured also died.