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Dog owners are allowing their dogs to roam free, clearly unconcerned of the potential stress and damage dogs can cause for Ireland’s hill sheep flocks, INHFA president Colm O’Donnell has said.
In outlining the ongoing devastation dog attacks has inflicted on sheep flocks throughout the country, O’Donnell stated: “This will only ever change when the laws on dog control are fully enforced.”
Control of dogs at all times
Dog owners are required to be in control of their dogs at all times, which also means knowing where their dogs are at all times, he said.
“Sadly, throughout the country, this is not the case.
"At night, many dog owners go to bed while outside their dog is allowed to roam free, others do control their dog at night but allow their dog to roam free while they are gone to work.
“Of course, on the hills, we see recreational walkers allowing their dogs to roam free, clearly unconcerned of the potential stress and damage dogs can cause for our hill flocks.
"The gross margin per ewe in hill flocks is low enough without having flocks attacked in this way,” he said.
Action
O’Donnell said that all of this will continue if action is not taken.
“In the 1970s, we had a national awareness campaign with TV ads illustrating what a pack of uncontrolled dogs can do to a sheep flock.
"We need something similar again. A campaign that targets all media outlets could be up and running by early February if the will is there to do it.”
Along with such a campaign, farmers will “need to see full enforcement of the laws that are there”, he said.
“This will need more resources, as the current complement of one dog warden per county is clearly not enough.
"These wardens need back-up and it is our belief that a team of part-time wardens assisting what is presently there, operating in the evenings and at weekends, could, over the next two years, ensure every dog owner is visited, and where needs be, address any issue that arises.”
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