Farmers are appealing for dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs as attacks on sheep rise across the county.
It comes as Gardaí in Kilkenny investigate a number of attacks since the start of December in the Thomastown area.
One sheep was killed on a farm in Smithstown on 6th December, the same farmer had another attack on 10th while another farm in the Knockbrack farmer lost a sheep on the same date.
It’s understood a large black/brown dog has been seen ramblin in the area.
South East Regional Leinster Chair Paul O’Brien from the IFA told KCLR News’ Martin Quilty: “Obviously this is a busy time for sheep farmers some of these Ewes could be heavy in lamb, being chased by dogs is a worry for the farmer.”
“It’s not only the sheep kill which is gruesome enough, but it’s also the damage that they could do to kind of unborn lambs and misplacements of lambs then as a result. So look, as a sheep farmer himself, sheep being run, it’s a very worrying time. We’d be appealing to all dog owners to make sure that their animals are under control, to make sure that they know where their dogs are, if walking have them on the lead because there is an obligation on behalf of the owner of the dogs to look after livestock in the area.”
“We’d be appealing particularly this time of year when there’s dark evenings do not let your dogs out unattended.”
