Farmers reiterate calls for stronger regulation around dog ownership following devastating attacks
The IFA wants to see a single national database for all dogs in the country that identifies the person responsible for the dog.
Farmers have reiterated their calls for stronger regulation around dog ownership following devastating attacks in recent days that left up to 70 lambs dead.Â
The attacks occurred in Moneygall on the Offaly/Tipperary border, and in Moyvalley, Co Kildare.
Up to 50 lambs were killed in the attack in Moneygall, and 20 lambs were attacked by dogs in Kildare, with 12 confirmed dead and 8 missing in Moyvalley, the Irish Farmers' Association said.
“The devastation caused by these attacks is shocking. For any farmer to go and check your stock and to find a scene like this is very distressing,” IFA sheep chairman Kevin Comiskey said.
“It’s simply not good enough for dogs to be allowed to roam free and cause the level of damage that took place in recent days. We need stronger regulation around dog ownership."
Earlier this year, Mr Comiskey led a delegation to meet Ministers Heather Humphreys and Charlie McConalogue, putting forward measures that are needed to curb dog attacks.
The IFA said that "unfortunately, we haven’t seen progress on any of these proposals in the past number of months and the attacks have continued".
“The persistent failure of the authorities has frustrated farmers who have suffered significant losses as a result of dog attacks, and those attacks continue to take place across the country,” Mr Comiskey said.
To tackle the issue, the IFA wants to see a single national database for all dogs in the country that identifies the person responsible for the dog.
It is also seeking tougher sanctions for those who fail to have their dog under their control at all times, and for those whose dogs are identified worrying/attacking livestock.
A priority in this area, according to the IFA, is also additional resources to ensure compliance with the obligations of dog owners.
