One Kerry sheep farmer awoke last Friday morning, 5 August, to find that 36 of his sheep had been killed in the night by a dog attack.
The 36 deceased sheep included 10 ewes, along with 26 Texel lambs.
Upon entering the field on Friday morning, the farmer found the sheep wire and stakes had all been uprooted and removed, and the dead sheep were lying in a different field.
The animals had been chased into a corner, and were found crushed up against a galvanised gate.
Three neighbours of the farmer in question also had four sheep killed on the same night.
A local vet was called and was able to confirm that due to bite marks on some of the animals’ bodies, they had been killed by a dog. The vet also pronounced that the remaining animals had died due to suffocation, caused by being crushed into such a small space.
The farmer of the 36 attacked sheep is estimating the financial loss to be worth around €3,000 to his farm.
A rise in dog attacks
Speaking to Radio Kerry this week, the farmer’s neighbour Pat Rowan said the farmer in question did not want to talk, but is urging dog owners to tie up their animals at night and know where they are at all times.
Dog attack cases have been on the rise in recent years, with an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 sheep killed every year in Ireland, due to dog attacks on farms.
A new law was introduced earlier this year, meaning all dog owners in the country must now microchip their animals and register them on an authorised database, in order to help combat the problem.
IFA
In light of last week's attack, the IFA National Sheep Chairman John Lynskey is reminding dog owners to control their animals and reminds owners they are responsible for their animals in such attacks.
Lynskey says he regularly takes calls from worried sheep farmers who have suffered attacks. "There are far too many dog owners not taking the responsibility that goes with owning a pet. Dog owners have an obligation to have their dog under control at all times", he says.
The IFA have a protocol for helping farmers who encounter dog attacks on their flocks, which includes: apprehending the dog, informing the Gardaí, Dog Warden, IFA and the vet and finally, take pictures of the scene.
Dogs must be microchipped by Thursday deadline
The IFA urges control over pets following numerous sheep attacks
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