Appeal to pet owners to be vigilant near farmlands

Dog owners are being reminded to keep control of their pets, especially when close to farmland.

80 sheep were killed in Tipperary in January with 70 more in Kerry in April. Added to that there have been reports of recent attacks too in Wicklow and the Dublin Mountains.

Marian Dalton is Carlow IFA’s national sheep committee representative and says such activity’s damaging peoples livelihoods, and more: ”You’re working with those sheep, you’re lambing them every year. Then you go out to see them and you find them dead or damaged. We are losing so many. It’s emotionally draining and a huge financial loss.  The dogs are gone, the damage is done and who compensates for the loss? It’s a very serious issue. ”