Each spring there are numerous attacks on sheep flocks by marauding dogs. The risk of damage to sheep is multiplied at this time of year, with mid-season lambing flocks on the point of giving birth. South-Tipperary man Gerry Ryan, who farms in Ballingarry, discovered his flock was the victim of a dog attack last Wednesday (2 March).

He returned home from work at 1.30pm and quickly knew something was wrong when a batch of 27 triplet-bearing ewes, two quads and a sextuplet were gathered in a bunch inside the gate of the field.

There were two batches of 30 twin-bearing ewes in adjoining lower fields. When he saw ewes also bunched at gates and heard dogs barking, Gerry feared the worst.

As he entered the fields with twin-bearing ewes, he was met by terrified animals with blood-stained wool and a number of others with severe cuts in their neck and throat area.

He followed the sound of barking and could see two dogs standing on the edge of a river barking at a ewe standing in about 3ft of water. He alerted a neighbour who came to his aid and the two dogs were shot.

Gerry’s flock has been victim to dog attacks in the past, but he says the damage endured this time is hard to comprehend.

“One ewe was standing helpless in 3ft of water. She must have been terrified to enter and water was covering most of her back,” he says.

“Even when the dogs were shot, she stayed standing there. Her throat was ripped and there was blood flowing into red-coloured water. It wasn’t a pretty sight and we had to go waist deep and lift her out.

“The vet had to put her and another ewe down and there were three already dead. The dogs were attacking for sport and there were 13 more with cuts and bite marks on their necks and throats.

“We are injecting and treating them and, as our vet says, all we can do is try to be real nice to them.

“They didn’t eat for three days and I often wonder if owners letting dogs loose would think otherwise if they could see the impact of a dog attack. The damage so far is only what is visible on the outside; it will be a few weeks until we find out what effect it has on ewes lambing.

“The dogs travelled a little over five miles and thankfully the owners have come forward. The guards and my neighbours were a great help to me and hopefully highlighting it will encourage owners to ask themselves are their dogs secure?”

Gerry welcomes the new microchipping legislation, but echoes the many calls for it to be policed fully.