Watch: Campaign launched as dog attacks on sheep remain constant

IFA President Francie Gorman and incoming chair of Wicklow IFA Selena McKenzie. Image source: Finbarr O'Rourke
IFA President Francie Gorman and incoming chair of Wicklow IFA Selena McKenzie. Image source: Finbarr O'Rourke

The annual 'No Dogs Allowed' campaign was launched by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) today (Monday, February 10) as members explained the ongoing worry of potential dog attacks on sheep.

IFA President Francie Gorman said the new government has to recognise the "deepening issue" of dog attacks on livestock.

He said that the campaign was first launched in 2021 and that neither government or local authorities has done enough to address the issue.

“The lack of robust enforcement of the legal obligations on dog owners has allowed horrendous attacks to persist and increase across the country. It is unacceptable,” Gorman said.

The IFA Wicklow chair Tom Byrne said that dog attacks are an "everyday problem" specifically in Co. Wicklow where the campaign was launched.

He said that there are farmers in rural and urban areas facing attacks across the county, and that while they have "pleaded with the public", no resolution has been reached.

As part of this year's campaign, the IFA have called for the following measures:

  • A single national database for all dogs correlating licensing and microchipping and identifying the person responsible for the dog;
  • Full enforcement of microchipping and licensing obligations of dog owners for all dogs;
  • Stronger powers of enforcement for dog wardens and gardaí and clarity on these powers;
  • Increased on the spot fines for failing to comply with the microchipping and licensing requirements;
  • "Significant" on the spot fines for dogs found worrying livestock;
  • Authority to apply the legislative obligations to dogs in border regions owned by persons not resident in the state.

IFA sheep chair Adrian Gallagher said that stronger regulations announced in late 2023 were a "step in the right direction", but they "don’t go far enough" to protect livestock from dog attacks.

Gallagher told Agriland that there have been two or three occurrences per week of dog worrying or attacks on sheep since the Christmas period.

IFA members launching today's campaign. Image source: Finbarr O'Rourke
IFA members launching today's campaign. Image source: Finbarr O'Rourke

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He explained that financially, the farmer loses the sheep that were killed on the day, but that they also have to pay for vet bills, knackery bills, along with the cost of replacing those sheep and possibly replace most of the flock that were scared during the attack.

He said it was "very difficult" to determine the mental consequences of such attacks, but that the memories never leave a farmer.

"You don't forget that morning when you get up and you see your flock ripped apart and carnaged and you see dogs. That sight never leaves," Gallagher said.

The IFA has called on the government to make it a legal requirement for dogs to be microchipped, licensed and identified on the National Veterinary Prescribing System (NVPS).

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