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A group of 12 sheep and 23 lambs were discovered savaged, distressed, chased through fences and drowned in a nearby river in Kill, Co Cavan.
Marie Collins, whose sons are sheep farmers just outside Cootehill, highlighted the devastation her son Padraig discovered when he went to check their sheep on Monday evening on Northern Sound.
One was dead in the river, savaged
“We don’t live on the farm and when Padraig went to check them at 6pm... he faced catastrophe," she said.
The dog had savaged seven or eight lambs and driven more through a fence into a river, she said.
"The other sheep were all afraid and shivering. Some had tried to get down to their lambs in the river, some had fallen in trying to get down to the lambs. The lambs were just shredded."
“One unfortunate sheep drowned in the river. She’d had two lambs six weeks ago. One was dead in the river, savaged, and the other was standing looking down with his leg hanging off trying to get down to his mother.”
Those sheep that survived the attack were left traumatised. Marie estimates the financial loss to be in the region of €2,000 to €3,000 but she says it is not just the financial loss but the mental anguish that will go on for a number of weeks.
“After such a long haul of a winter on farmers, you mind the cattle and mind the sheep and then the whole thing blows up in your face over something you have no control over.”
The attack is believed to have taken place between 12.30pm and 6pm and the dog responsible has not yet been found.
“This attack did not happen at night. This was somebody's pet dog, somebody's lovely little dog that wouldn't bite you, attacked these sheep. You can shut you dog in at night... but the one that is out during the day can be just as dangerous,” Marie said.
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