There was a string of dog attacks in the Knockevagh area of Rathvilly, Co Carlow, last week.

Between Thursday night and Saturday morning, three separate farms were attacked by dogs. The first farm had one ewe killed, while another had two killed.

It is every sheep farmer’s worst nightmare

Six lambs born in January were attacked on a third farm; two had to be put down.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Rathvilly community alert chair William Burgess said sheep in an adjoining field were moved for fear of further attacks. He described the situation as: “every sheep farmer’s worst nightmare”.

He added that the problem of dog attacks “has to be dealt with because it is an issue, particularly around this time of the year”.

He added: “You’re going to sleep at night and you’re constantly worried about your sheep. Although 99% of people do look after their dogs, it’s the one or two per cent who don’t who are the problem.”

Before Christmas, William said he had a lucky escape on his own farm: “There were two St Bernard dogs out hunting and I hadn’t put my sheep in the shed. I had 70 ewes in the next field – imagine if they had got in.”

New microchipping laws

New legislation regarding microchipping was introduced in September last year. As a result it is now compulsory for puppy owners to have a microchip inserted into the animal by a certified vet.

Older dogs are not exempt from the scheme and the deadline for microchipping all dogs is at the end of this month.

Microchips carry details of the dog, the owner’s name, address and contact details.

However, William believes “the new law will be no use unless it is policed and people are checked up on. They are really going to have to clamp down on this because it is a joke.”

Local authorities, the Department of Agriculture and An Garda Síochána are responsible for enforcing the new laws surrounding micro-chipping.

To read the IFA’s protocol for dealing with dog attacks, click here.

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