DEAR EDITOR,

I am writing to highlight the ongoing dog attacks on sheep, and more importantly the lack of recognition around enforcement of dog regulations, compensation for loss etc.

In my own county of Carlow, there have been a number of sheep killed this year so far.

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Sheep have been ran by dogs off leads in hilly areas.

We have met with the dog warden who was as helpful as regulation allows him to be with the powers given.

As it stands, it would seem it goes back to the farmer to be the bad guy and shoot the dog or dogs on his land. No farmer wants to shoot a dog. It leads to hard feelings and distress.

Surely prevention is better than cure?

Checks on people who are known not to keep dogs under control and so on to educate them on what can happen would be a start.

As for compensation, well it’s seldom enough dog owners involved step forward for one reason or another.

Perhaps the State should have something in place to pay sheep farmers for the often huge financial loss they suffer as a result of dog attacks.

This is of course apart from the emotional side of things when a farmer walks into a field of carnage.

We all have to be aware. Our family pets can be killers. There are no winners when something like a sheep kill happens.