Appeal to dog owners as sheep killed in attack

Dog owners are being reminded to make sure their pets are not worrying livestock this winter. The call comes following a dog attack where three sheep were killed. Another sheep fled into a wooded area and was lost.

The incident happened in the South Roscommon area. These dog attacks can have a significant impact on flocks, leaving them traumatised, as well as hurting farmers' livelihoods.

Cllr Laurence Fallon said that a dog attack was “probably the worst thing to happen to a sheep farmer”.

“The stress it causes on the animals is enormous and it is particularly bad during the season when the ewes are pregnant, because the damage there is enormous,” he said. “The long-term damage done to a flock that is attacked can be severe. You have the immediate damage where the animals are killed or maimed and they have to be put down. Then you have the long-term damage of stress.” 

He recalled an incident where a farmer suffered a severe dog attack and at least three of his sheep never recovered.

“Nobody intentionally lets their dog out to attack livestock but there is a belief that a pet dog would never do any harm. In reality, while a pet dog could be perfectly tame, when he gets into a pack with other dogs who are may be not so tame, or even one dog, they become killer dogs. The message is keep your dog under control at all times.” 

He appealed to dog owners to keep their pets, “whether they be the smallest or the biggest”, under control at all times.

“The financial loss can be very serious and can never be taken lightly, but I think a lot of farmers will tell you the mental suffering was worse, when they saw the way the animals were attacked and injured.”