A Co Kildare father and son are counting the cost of a dog attack which left 13 sheep dead.

Pat and Kevin Burke discovered last Thursday that 10 sheep had been killed in the attack, with the vet having to put down three more after they were found injured.

The Burkes have been told that more could die in the coming days as a result of shock from the attack.

This is happening because people are too careless with their dogs

The attack happened in the Castledermot area of Co Kildare and it is not the first time the flock has been the victim of a dog attack. “We’ve had attacks before,” Pat told the Irish Farmers Journal. “You might lose one every year but last year we lost five and then we had this big kill this year. It’s awful disheartening.”

Pat and Kevin run a flock of 400 ewes as well as 150 replacements and they expect the loss from the attack to run into more than €2,000.

“Even just to get rid of the carcases of the 13 is €30/head, then you have vet fees on top of that plus what the sheep are actually worth. That doesn’t take into account that these ewes could’ve gone into circulation and produced lambs of their own. That’s a huge knock-on cost.”

The Burkes said two dogs were seen roaming on the property and they are urging dog owners to lock up their dogs to ensure livestock are not attacked.

“This is happening because people are too careless with their dogs. It is a natural instinct for dogs to attack and kill. It is the owners’ responsibility to ensure their dogs are not allowed to roam,” Pat said.

Protocol

The IFA has a 10-point protocol for dealing with the aftermath of a sheep attack.

This includes shooting the dog if they are in the field worrying livestock, informing gardaí, keeping evidence and telling sheep-farming neighbours about the attack.

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'It’s a savage loss' – farmer left counting the cost of sheep attack

What to do if you find a dog attacking your sheep