The extent of the problem of sheep attacks was graphically represented by the turnout in Enniscorthy at a sheep farmers’ meeting last Thursday evening.

Organised at very short notice following a succession of high-profile incidents on sheep farms in recent weeks, the meeting attracted a massive response. Around 120 people piled into the Farm Centre’s second meeting room in Enniscorthy, with many more listening outside.

The seriousness of the immediate situation was illustrated by the presence of four county councillors, representatives of Wexford County Council and members of the gardaí.

A major kill had just occurred in Davidstown and had occupied the front page of the local paper, with over 30 sheep dead and another 10 needing to be put down. This occurred only days after the slaughter of sheep on Liam Poole’s farm, reported in the Irish Farmers Journal two weeks ago, with another four dog attacks known in the same period.

In Liam Poole’s case, the dog was actually chipped, but it took quite a bit of investigation to discover the owner.

Unbelievably, there is more than one chip database – there are at least four, and each one is independent of the others. It was also confirmed that chipped dogs are not necessarily licensed – a licence number is not required by all databases.

Unreported

James Kehoe, the Wexford IFA Sheep Committee chair, organised the event. He spoke of the difficulty of evaluating the extent of the problem, as many attacks go unreported.

This was confirmed by one of the gardaí present, who quoted UK research indicating that one quarter of dog attacks on sheep are unreported. Judging from the litany of accounts of attacks from the floor that night, the reported incidents could be lower in Ireland.

Hidden cost

Of course, with breeding ewes, the visible damage is only the beginning of the story. Typical after-effects from the trauma of a dog attacks include ongoing problems with fertility, or with ewes aborting or delivering weak lambs. This leaves farmers out of pocket and also battling with damaged sheep for a full breeding cycle.

Garda Inspector Pat Cody explained that farmers have the right to protect their flocks by shooting a dog or dogs attacking sheep. However, he said that a farmer was obliged to report any shooting to gardaí within a 48-hour period. Otherwise: “The case could turn on you.”

There was a case in Wexford some years ago, reported in this paper, where a farmer who shot a dog attacking his sheep was later prosecuted. It was claimed that the dog had suffered unduly because it had been wounded and had not been finished off. The farmer had prioritised his sheep over the dog, which had crawled through a ditch and a considerable distance away before expiring. The case was thrown out.

The IFA’s Kevin Kinsella reminded farmers of the 10-point plan where a dog attack takes place. He expressed hope that the strength of turnout would ensure that the issue would receive the attention it merited and assured farmers that the IFA would continue to push for better controls of dogs and better protection for sheep flocks.

Lamping

A parallel problem reported was of sheep being unsettled by people hunting at night – known as lamping. This is a legal pursuit, but can only be carried out with the landowner’s permission.

Unfortunately, the meeting heard tale after tale of unauthorised hunting. This is trespass, with obvious risks posed to sheep flocks, especially of sheep close to mating or while pregnant.

As one farmer put it: “My vet advises not to disturb sheep unless entirely necessary during mating, and in early and late pregnancy. I organise my entire management plan on that basis – in terms of worm control, vaccination, herding of any description. So imagine the damage when packs of dogs are walking through the field. The fact that there are people with the dogs is beside the point.”

One farmer described his local village as “being like Shelbourne Park” as there are so many greyhounds.

Another spoke of how a jeep was parked up a lane with carpet rolled out over the back number plate, so a passer-by could not identify the vehicle. A number of dogs and owners were discovered nearby.

Others spoke of feeling intimidated on their own land when confronting trespassers out hunting with dogs. There were reports of dogs being lost hunting at night, and left behind on farmland, with obvious dangers for sheep.

Inspector Cody also said that gardaí were always ready to assist where trespass was reported, but that it was quite difficult to prosecute in relation to intimidation.

John Colfer is the sole dog warden for the entire county of Wexford, with 20,000 dogs – only half of which are licensed – in his jurisdiction. There were calls for the money from dog licences being used to hire a second warden.

Story after story was recounted of the appalling consequence of dog attacks.

Outcomes

James Kehoe reported that, since the meeting, a pilot scheme is being planned to be run in association with Wexford County Council, with a leaflet to be printed and delivered reminding people of the threat dogs pose and of the need to ensure that dogs are always supervised or secured.

A second dog warden is also being sought for the county.

The IFA is also seeking a meeting with Minister Alan Kelly to discuss the entire situation.

In addition, three dogs were found attacking sheep on a farm quite near Liam Poole’s on Friday. The sheep involved were store lambs, which had only been purchased the previous day. The dogs were shot.

IFA’s 10-point plan

1 Stop the dogs: On encountering a dog attack on sheep, the first priority must be to stop the attack immediately, apprehend the marauding dog or dogs and look after the welfare of the sheep.

2 Follow the law: It is very important that sheep farmers are aware of, and follow, the law in the context of protecting their sheep flock against marauding dogs. Under the 1984 Control of Dogs Act, it states under the section ‘defence in action for damages for shooting a dog’ – (1) It shall be a defence to any action for damages against a person for the shooting of a dog, or to any charge arising out of the shooting of a dog, if the defendant proves that: (a) the dog was shot when it was worrying, or was about to worry, livestock and that there were no other reasonable means of ending or preventing the worrying; or (b) (i) the dog was a stray dog which was in the vicinity of a place where livestock had been injured or killed, and (ii) the defendant reasonably believed that the dog had been involved in the injury or killing, and (iii) there were no practicable means of seizing the dog or ascertaining to whom it belonged; and (c) he was the person in charge of the livestock; and (d) he notified within 48 hours the member in charge at the nearest garda station to the place where the dog was shot of the incident.

3 Inform the gardaí: It is very important that a sheep farmer notifies gardaí of any dog attack on their sheep. If a dog is shot following or threatening a sheep flock, the person who shot the dog must notify the member in charge at the nearest garda station to the place where the dog was shot, within 48 hours. It is important that the owner of the sheep reports the incident in full, makes an official complaint and requests that a full investigation is undertaken and report filed. In addition, the farmer should request a site visit from the Garda Síochána.

4 Ring the dog warden: Immediate contact should be made with the local dog warden of any sheep attack and the full details reported with a request for a site visit and full report to be filed.

5 Contact the IFA: All dog attacks should be notified to the local IFA regional office or head office, and the local IFA branch representative and member of the National Sheep Committee from the county involved should be informed.

6 Ring the vet: To look after any injured sheep and protect the welfare of the flock, a vet should be contacted and asked to visit and inspect the flock. The farmer should ask the vet to write a brief report recording the important statistics, such as the numbers dead, severely injured and treated. This report is vital evidence in the case.

7 Keep the evidence/take a picture: Pictures of dead sheep, injured sheep, dead dogs, etc, should be taken on the spot with a smartphone, etc, as this again can prove to be vitally important in terms of evidence. All dead sheep must be disposed of and recorded into the knackery.

8 Get a valuation of losses: Contact a local auctioneer or valuer and have any dead sheep valued on the spot and any other losses documented.

9 Inform your insurance company: It is very important to inform your insurance company of any dog attack as soon as possible after the incident occurs. Likewise, it is very important to establish the insurance company of the dog owner (home and/or farm insurance).

10 Tell your sheep farming neighbours: It is very important that other sheep farmers in the local area are aware of any dog attack in their vicinity, particularly if the dogs are not apprehended. Utilise the local community alert or text messaging facility, if available.