Galway farmer Michael Silke has described a brutal dog attack on his sheep as “soul destroying”.

Seven sheep were killed in the attack on Thursday 28 January.

However, Michael told the Irish Farmers Journal that he fears at least four more, currently under the direct care of the local vet, will die from their injuries.

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Another 20 were bitten and worried by a German shepherd/husky-cross and labrador.

Michael said the attack occurred on an outfarm and he was alerted on Thursday morning by a neighbour.

I’d have put a lot into the sheep, it’s soul destroying, the whole thing would turn your stomach

“The dogs must have been there all night and came out of the local town,” Michael said.

“They had an awful lot of damage done. We spent the whole day trying to find the rest of the sheep.”

Michael said that many of the sheep were carrying lambs and described the impact of the attack.

“I’d have put a lot into the sheep, it’s soul destroying, the whole thing would turn your stomach,” he said.

“You feel a total sense of worthlessness because there’s so little you can do about it really. You’re dependent on people looking after the dogs.

“There’s a lot of people with dogs at the minute that wouldn’t have had them before the lockdown and need to realise that they need to be looked after and minded properly. You can’t just leave dogs running loose around a town.”