The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has called on the Minister for Agriculture to secure the necessary resources in the upcoming budget ahead of his Department assuming full responsibility for dog control later this year.
Some of the actions that the IFA is calling for include a centralised database of dogs and their owners for all enforcement authorities, limitations for dogs not licensed or microchipped, stricter sanctions for improper dog ownership and more education and awareness.
Speaking after a Comhairle na Tuaithe meeting in Dublin, IFA hill farming chair Caillin Conneely said farmers are at breaking point and are “sick of false promises”.
“Understanding and empathy is one thing, but tangible action through legislative changes and more boots on the ground is another if we are to put a halt to the ongoing and growing incidence of irresponsible dog ownership, dog attacks and livestock worrying. What’s there at the minute just isn’t sufficient,” he said.
Land access
Wicklow hill sheep farmer and former IFA hill farming chair Pat Dunne was one of the first farmers in the country to get agreed access routes established on his land.
After an incident with a walker and dog, he was forced to regrettably remove access from his land for walkers along the popular zig-zag Glenmalure route. He said that farmers have given permission to hillwalkers, not to dogs.
“I am definitely not anti-dogs or anti-hill walkers, but an immediate ban on dogs (other than working dogs) on the farmed land is the only solution at this stage.
“We allowed access on to our hill in 2007, first allowing dogs only on leads, but we soon discovered that this wasn’t happening. Dogs were let off when on the hills and out of sight.
“We then brought in a ‘no dogs allowed’ policy. Most understood the potential risk dogs bring to the sheep and wildlife and were respectful of our wishes, but some, particularly in more recent years, met us with resistance, both verbally and physically.”
‘Under threat’
Matthew McGreehan, a hill sheep farmer on the Cooley Mountains and member of the IFA sheep committee, said hill farmers are under siege.
“Our property rights are being taken for granted. Our livelihoods are under threat. We need laws strengthened because there is no law and order at the minute,” he added.
“Farmers are having to deal with abusive hill walkers with dogs more and more. Some elderly hill farmers are afraid to even tend to their sheep at this stage for fear of confrontation. Younger farmers are fed up with it too.
“I’d be afraid to go away for a day now in case my sheep would be chased or attacked while I’m away. It’s relentless.”
Read more
Calls for stricter dog owner rules to combat sheep worrying
Dogs should be banned from all hills – IFA
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has called on the Minister for Agriculture to secure the necessary resources in the upcoming budget ahead of his Department assuming full responsibility for dog control later this year.
Some of the actions that the IFA is calling for include a centralised database of dogs and their owners for all enforcement authorities, limitations for dogs not licensed or microchipped, stricter sanctions for improper dog ownership and more education and awareness.
Speaking after a Comhairle na Tuaithe meeting in Dublin, IFA hill farming chair Caillin Conneely said farmers are at breaking point and are “sick of false promises”.
“Understanding and empathy is one thing, but tangible action through legislative changes and more boots on the ground is another if we are to put a halt to the ongoing and growing incidence of irresponsible dog ownership, dog attacks and livestock worrying. What’s there at the minute just isn’t sufficient,” he said.
Land access
Wicklow hill sheep farmer and former IFA hill farming chair Pat Dunne was one of the first farmers in the country to get agreed access routes established on his land.
After an incident with a walker and dog, he was forced to regrettably remove access from his land for walkers along the popular zig-zag Glenmalure route. He said that farmers have given permission to hillwalkers, not to dogs.
“I am definitely not anti-dogs or anti-hill walkers, but an immediate ban on dogs (other than working dogs) on the farmed land is the only solution at this stage.
“We allowed access on to our hill in 2007, first allowing dogs only on leads, but we soon discovered that this wasn’t happening. Dogs were let off when on the hills and out of sight.
“We then brought in a ‘no dogs allowed’ policy. Most understood the potential risk dogs bring to the sheep and wildlife and were respectful of our wishes, but some, particularly in more recent years, met us with resistance, both verbally and physically.”
‘Under threat’
Matthew McGreehan, a hill sheep farmer on the Cooley Mountains and member of the IFA sheep committee, said hill farmers are under siege.
“Our property rights are being taken for granted. Our livelihoods are under threat. We need laws strengthened because there is no law and order at the minute,” he added.
“Farmers are having to deal with abusive hill walkers with dogs more and more. Some elderly hill farmers are afraid to even tend to their sheep at this stage for fear of confrontation. Younger farmers are fed up with it too.
“I’d be afraid to go away for a day now in case my sheep would be chased or attacked while I’m away. It’s relentless.”
Read more
Calls for stricter dog owner rules to combat sheep worrying
Dogs should be banned from all hills – IFA
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