Walkers asked to keep dogs on leads and not make life tougher for farmers
A LOCAL councillor has urged walkers to keep their pets on leads because of the damage that can be done by dogs chasing sheep.
Cllr Marie Casserly said: “Farming is a tough livelihood and should not be made tougher by thoughtless, irresponsible dog owners.” The independent councillor said she was aware of the hardship experienced by farmers who have had sheep attacked, leading to injury and death.
She said farmers did not want it to be a “them versus walkers situation”.
“They don’t want a fuss about it, this is just a reminder to people to keep dogs on leads,” she said.
She said it was a bigger issue at this time of year, particularly when ewes are ready to lamb or have done so, and after Christmas and coming into spring, more people are out walking.
The north Sligo councillor said it was very scenic around her area, with walks such as the Gleniff Horseshoe in Ballintrillick, but she said there was significant worry amongst farmers, as there were sheep grazing all around. “They don’t want to tell people not to walk of course, but damage can be done. Sheep are valuable assets and any harm to them, harms a farmer’s livelihood,” she said.
Cllr Casserly said that while it was good to see more walkers because of the health benefits that walking brings, people “need to be sensitive to farming as a rural way of life”.
“It is every dog’s instinct to chase, even if they are usually obedient and good with other animals. Chasing by dogs can do serious damage to sheep, even if the dog doesn’t catch them.
“The stress of worrying about dogs can cause sheep to die and pregnant ewes to miscarry their lambs. Sheep fleeing from dogs are often killed or seriously injured by their panicked attempts to escape, causing untold damage to fences and field boundaries in the process.
“Dogs chasing ewes and lambs can cause mismothering issues, with lambs dying from starvation or hypothermia when they become separated from their mother and fail to find her again.
“Dog bites can cause death in sheep or necessitate them being put down at a later date or, in less severe cases, considerable veterinary bills and additional welfare issues as a result of flies being attracted.
“Injuries to sheep can also delay the normal farming routine, be it the mating season or administration of vital medicines and vaccines,” she said.
Cllr Casserly said that the Control of Dogs Act 1986 sets out that if a dog worries livestock, the owner or any other person in charge of the dog shall be guilty of an offence.
“This can result in serious financial and legal consequences. Farmers have a right to protect their sheep flock and can shoot a dog that is worrying, or about to worry, their flock.
“If the dog kills, attacks or chases livestock in a manner that could reasonably be expected to cause death, injury or suffering to the livestock, or result in a financial loss to the owner, the dog’s owner is guilty of an offence, and the incident should be reported to the Gardaí.”
She said that gardaí will be helpful to complainants and victims. “Prosecutions have and will continue to take place.
“I am speaking to farmers to call for ‘zero tolerance’ towards roaming dogs. Farming is a tough livelihood and should not be made tougher by thoughtless, irresponsible dog owners,” she said.