IFA has developed a protocol for farmers whose sheep flocks suffer a dog attack.

Sheep Committee chairman John Lynskey launched the 10-step programme on Wednesday. It is designed to assist farmers in following all appropriate steps in the most traumatic of situations. He said: “Based on the feedback IFA gets from farmers who have had to deal with a dog attack on their flock, the biggest problems surround a lack of information on what they should do, who they should contact and where can they get help.”

The IFA Protocol, developed in close co-operation with the Department of the Environment, deals with these basic questions and also outlines important aspects of the law and how the dog warden service and the Garda can help, Lynskey explained to the Irish Farmers Journal.

“It also sets out how to keep a full record of the attack, which can be used as evidence at a later stage.” Lynskey added that IFA had held a useful round of meetings with all of the country’s dog wardens late last year. “An effective dog warden service is essential, as dog wardens are very experienced and can be helpful in apprehending stray or marauding dogs,” he said.

1. Stop the dog – On encountering a dog attack on sheep, the first priority must be to stop the attack immediately, apprehend the marauding dog or dogs and look after the welfare of the sheep.

2. Follow the Law – It is very important that sheep farmers are aware of and follow the law in the context of protecting their sheep flock against marauding dogs. The 1984 Control of Dogs Act states under the section - Defence in action for damages for shooting a dog.

(1) It shall be a defence to any action for damages against a person for the shooting of a dog, or to any charge arising out of the shooting of a dog, if the defendant proves that —

(a) the dog was shot when it was worrying, or was about to worry, livestock and that there were no other reasonable means of ending or preventing the worrying; or

(b) (i) the dog was a stray dog which was in the vicinity of a place where livestock had been injured or killed, and

(ii) the defendant reasonably believed that the dog had been involved in the injury or killing, and

(iii) there were no practicable means of seizing the dog or ascertaining to whom it belonged; and

(c) he was the person in charge of the livestock; and

(d) he notified within forty-eight hours the member in charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was shot of the incident.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) (a) and subsection (1) (b) (i) and (iii) of this section shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the defendant believed that those provisions had been satisfied and he had reasonable grounds for that belief.

3. Inform the Garda – The flockowner should make an official complaint within 48 hours and request a full investigation, including a site visit from the Garda.

4. Ring the Dog Warden – Immediate contact should be made with the local dog warden of any sheep attack and the full details reported with a request for a site visit and full report to be filed.

5. Contact the IFA – Notify your local IFA office or branch representative/Sheep Committee member.

6. Ring the Vet – To look after any injured sheep and protect the welfare of the flock, a vet should be contacted and asked to visit and inspect the flock. The farmer should ask for a brief report recording the important statistics such as the numbers dead, severely injured and treated.

7. Keep the Evidence/Take a picture – Pictures of dead sheep, injured sheep, dead dogs should be taken on the spot as this can prove important.

8. Get a valuation of losses – Contact a local auctioneer or valuer and have any dead sheep valued on the spot and any other losses documented. All dead sheep must be disposed of and recorded into the knackery.

9. Inform your insurance company – Inform your insurance company of any dog attack as soon as possible after the incident occurs. You should also establish the insurance company of the dog owner (home and/or farm insurance).

10. Tell your sheep farming neighbours – Other sheep farmers in the local area should be aware of any dog attack in their vicinity, particularly if the dogs are not apprehended. Utilise the local community alert or text messaging facility if available.

Insurance cover a real option for flock-owners

It is possible for farmers to protect themselves against the financial loss involved when their sheep flock are targeted by dogs. Stewart Gavin of FBD says more farmers are taking out cover as the incidence of dog attacks increase.

“Every year we see a substantial increase in claims where sheep are being attacked, killed and torn to pieces by vicious dogs, making the lambing season a particularly worrying time for sheep farmers. A random one-off attack can leave a farmer thousands of euros out of pocket.”

It’s a very difficult time when a farmer’s flock is attacked, we understand that, and our aim is to take as much of the stress out of the claims procedure as possible with our experienced livestock claims handlers who have first hand knowledge of farming.

He also highlighted that FBD’s Farm insurance public liability section caters for protecting farmers legal liability should their dogs attack or follow sheep flocks.