Dog owners urged to act responsibly during critical lambing season

Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD has urged dog owners to take due care and act responsibly in any instances where there may be a risk to livestock, particularly sheep, as we approach the critical lambing season for the sheep farming community.

Minister Heydon said: “The issue of livestock worrying has been evident as a huge concern in the farming community for many years now. I’m determined to ensure this critical issue becomes embedded in the consciousness of dog owners and ensure that dog owners understand their responsibility and the significant damage a dog can do to a flock if uncontrolled.

You simply cannot bring your dog for a walk out in the country and just let it roam. This is an issue of huge importance, to the community as a whole and to all those responsible for animals, including the farming sector and pet owners. This is why we are launching this awareness campaign to alert the public to their responsibilities to keep their dogs under control.”

Minister Heydon said that he is in favour of increasing fines.

“We are awaiting the findings of a high-level report for their recommendations which could include increasing fines which I would be in favour of. We need to tackle the amount of dogs that are not being microchipped, and the latest figures from 2024 indicate 56 per-cent of stray dogs entering local authority pounds in 2024 were not microchipped, and this needs to change.

We urgently need to increase the microchipping rates for all dogs, and I am committed to ensuring that legislation for this evolves in light of new challenges and opportunities.”

Minister Heydon confirmed that while his Department is responsible for policy and legislation on the control of dogs, local authorities retain responsibility for all operational and enforcement. They have the power to appoint dog wardens, provide dog shelters, seize dogs, impose on-the-spot fines and take court proceedings against owners.

The Minister confirmed that his Department provided €2 million in capital funding in 2025 through the Dog Control Support Initiative and will provide €2 million in 2026 to support this work through additional dog warden recruitment.

In 2024 there was a 4 per-cent increase in the number of livestock worrying incidents reported to local authorities, with the number of animals attacked, and number of animals maimed, killed, or put down as a result of attacks also increasing.

As of the most recent sheep census, there were approximately 2.6 million breeding sheep in the state, the majority being breeding ewes.

Sheep-worrying, threats to livestock and related matters, continue to be of significant concern amongst our farming and rural communities.

The devastation caused by livestock attacks is significant in terms of financial losses and the emotional trauma that ensues in the aftermath.

The overall trend in number of incidents being reported to local authorities has increased since these records began, but the prevailing concern is that there may be significant under-reporting of incidents in the sector.

A high-level stakeholder group under the Chairmanship of retired Deputy Garda Commissioner, John Twomey, was established in 2024 to consider policy and legislative matters, including the Dog Control Act.

The stakeholder group’s remit includes considering the need for legislative change and Minister Heydon will be informed and guided by the group, who it is anticipated will revert to him with recommendations on the matter imminently. It is likely that the report will refer to the issue of dog control in the context of livestock and sheep worrying.

Minister Heydon concluded: “Responsible dog ownership including effective control of dogs in a countryside setting is an important matter. I am personally invested in making a difference in this area. I look forward, along with my Department, to engaging proactively in terms of wide-ranging awareness campaigns across relevant platforms throughout 2026, on issues around responsible dog ownership, including sheep worrying.

“It is of vital importance that we implement and enforce appropriate legislation, resource initiatives that facilitate effective dog control, and generally continue to raise the bar in this important area. The challenge is wide-ranging and multi-dimensional in nature, and I look forward, along with all stakeholders, to meeting that challenge head on.”

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) said that they welcome the initiative by the Minister and the Department to increase awareness of the dangers uncontrolled dogs pose to all livestock and especially sheep.

"Concern around dog attacks on sheep is an ongoing issue for INHFA members that we have highlighted and campaigned on over the last number of years," said INHFA President Pheilim Molloy. Mr. Molloy added:

“As we move into lambing season it is vital that all dog owners ensure their dogs are controlled both day and night and we hope this campaign will help instil this message."