Death toll rises to 26 after Christmas Day sheep attack

The death toll from a Christmas Day attack on a flock of sheep in Galbally has risen this week to 26, according to local farmers, Tracey and John Ryan. The initial attack killed 16 animals, but the stress placed on the animals means that the numbers dying has continued to rise.

The brutal attack on 16 ewe lambs was reported by the Farmers Journal in early January, where Anglesborough’s Eddie Moriarty, a member of the IFA sheep committee, said that there is a ‘constant annoyance’ with people not controlling and minding their dogs.

Dogs of all sizes are capable of worrying sheep, from the toy Jack Russell to a German Shepherd. Smaller dogs will worry the sheep and run them over a field and sheep will be weak with the cold weather and particularly now, when they’re in lamb.

In January, 2022, 30 sheep were killed with more injured and missing in the Knockmealdown mountains, and another 10 killed with more missing and injured in Ballyporeen and Araglin in June 2021. Meanwhile, a garda investigation is underway in Laois after a flock of sheep were attacked by a number of dogs in Emo on Friday last week.

A report in August last year said there were 268 incidents involving dogs worrying livestock in 2022, with 901 animals attacked: 755 sheep, 77 cattle and 68 poulty. Of 378 animals maimed, killed or put down, there were 336 sheep, 11 cattle and 63 poultry.

FARMER PROTOCOLS

The IFA has a protocol for farmers in the case of dogs attacking or worrying sheep, including the note that it is within the law for a farmer to shoot a guilty dog, in the context of protecting their sheep, once there were ‘no practicable means of seizing the dog or ascertaining to whom it belonged’.

Should a farmer need to shoot a dog, it is a requirement to notify the gardaí within 48 hours.

Information on the number of incidents of sheep kills by dogs in the Galtee Vee area has been sought by The Avondhu from the IFA. These figures were not available at the time of going to print.