Farmers erecting 'No Dogs Allowed' posters on gates
AS part of a nationwide IFA campaign, farmers are putting up ‘No Dogs Allowed’ posters on farm gates across the country.
IFA national sheep chairman Sean Dennehy said farmers whose livestock are under threat from dog attacks have no choice but to refuse walkers with dogs access to their lands.
“There has been a significant increase in attacks in recent months and the message simply isn’t getting through,” he said.
“We also have reports of farmers encountering verbal abuse and intimidation when they remind dog owners of their responsibilities and the dangers of letting their pets off the leash.”
Despite repeated requests, he said local authorities have failed to put appropriate measures in place, and dog owners refuse to take responsibility for their pets.
Sheep attacks
Meanwhile, Mayo IFA sheep chairman Martin Shaughnessy said in the past week, he had to deal with a farmer who endured a dog attack on his sheep, involving serious losses, with a number of dead and injured sheep, and is now facing into more losses at lambing.
Despite the efforts of the farmer in defending his flock, some of the dogs still remain on the loose.
The Hollymount IFA branch man warned that pets can inflict horrendous damage on a flock and owners can be held responsible for the losses involved, with serious financial and legal consequences. Farmers also have a right to legal protect their flock, including shooting dogs.
Mr. Shaughnessy said the devastation experienced by this farmer has left him seriously questioning his future in sheep production. This was the third such attack in the last 12 months.
“Unfortunately, I am taking calls on a frequent basis from farmers who have suffered similar such attacks,” he said. “There are far too many dog owners not taking the responsibility that goes with owning a pet. Dog owners have an obligation to have their dog under control at all times.”
As we enter the season where attacks become a weekly feature again with the long dark nights, flocks with pregnant ewes are particularly vulnerable to attacks, and especially at night.
Mr. Shaughnessy referred to the IFA protocol which will help farmers who encounter a dog attack. The 10-point plan explains what to do, important aspects of the law, and how to keep a full record of the attack, which can be used as evidence at a later stage.
“Based on the feedback IFA gets from farmers who have had to deal with a dog attack on their flock, one of the biggest problems is the lack of information on what they should do, who they should contact and where can they get help,” he said.
The IFA protocol deals with these basic questions and also outlines important aspects of the law and how the dog warden service and the gardaí can help. It also sets out how to keep a full record of the attack, which can be used as evidence at a later stage.
IFA Protocol for Farmers on Sheep Kills by Dogs
The IFA has developed a protocol for farmers who encounter a dog attack on their sheep flocks. The IFA is also working with the Department of the Environment and Local Government, including the dog warden services, on highlighting responsible dog ownership.
1. Stop the dogs
On encountering a dog attack on sheep, the first priority must be to stop the attack immediately, apprehend the marauding dog or dogs and look after the welfare of the sheep.
2. Follow the Law
It is very important that sheep farmers are aware of, and follow the law, in the context of protecting their sheep flock against marauding dogs.
Under the 1984 Control of Dogs Act it states, under the section Defence in action for damages for shooting a dog.
(1) It shall be a defence to any action for damages against a person for the shooting of a dog, or to any charge arising out of the shooting of a dog, if the defendant proves that—
(a) the dog was shot when it was worrying, or was about to worry, livestock and that there were no other reasonable means of ending or preventing the worrying; or
(b) (i) the dog was a stray dog which was in the vicinity of a place where livestock had been injured or killed, and
(ii) the defendant reasonably believed that the dog had been involved in the injury or killing, and
(iii) there were no practicable means of seizing the dog or ascertaining to whom it belonged; and
(c) he was the person in charge of the livestock; and
(d) he notified within forty-eight hours the member in charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was shot of the incident.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) (a) and subsection (1) (b) (i) and (iii) of this section shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the defendant believed that those provisions had been satisfied and he had reasonable grounds for that belief.
3. Inform the Gardaí
It is very important that a sheep farmer would notify the Gardai of any dog attack on their sheep. If a dog is shot following or threatening a sheep flock, the person who shot the dog must notify the member in charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was shot, within forty-eight hours.
It is important that the owner of the sheep would report the incident in full, make an official complaint and request that a full investigation is undertaken and report filed. In addition, the farmer should request a site visit from the Garda.
4. Ring the Dog Warden
Immediate contact should be made with the local dog warden of any sheep attack and the full details reported with a request for a site visit and full report to be filed.
5. Contact the IFA
All dog attacks should be notified to the local IFA regional office or head office, and the local IFA branch representative and member of the National Sheep Committee from the county involved should be informed.
6. Ring the Vet
To look after any injured sheep and protect the welfare of the flock, a vet should be contacted and asked to visit and inspect the flock. The farmer should ask the vet to write a brief report recording the important statistics such as the numbers dead, severely injured and treated. This report is vital evidence on the case.
7. Keep the Evidence/Take a Picture
Pictures of dead sheep, injured sheep, dead dogs etc., should be taken on the spot with a smart phone etc., as this again can prove to be vitally important in terms of evidence. All dead sheep must be disposed of and recorded into the knackery.
8. Get a valuation of losses
Contact a local auctioneer or valuer and have any dead sheep valued on the spot and any other losses documented.
9. Inform your insurance company
It is very important to inform your insurance company of any dog attack as soon as possible after the incident occurs. Likewise it is very important to establish the insurance company of the dog owner (home and/or farm insurance).
10. Tell your sheep farming neighbours
It is very important that other sheep farmers in the local area are aware of any dog attack in their vicinity, particularly if the dogs are not apprehended. Utilise the local community alert or text messaging facility if available.