Dog owners are being reminded of their obligations to keep their pets under control

As the busy lambing season ramps up on farms around the county, dog owners are being reminded of their obligations to keep their dogs under control at all times and how sheep worrying incidents can have a devastating and long-lasting impact.

Last week An Garda Siochana Meath issued a reminder to dog owners on its social media pages, that responsibility and associated costs if a sheep is attacked by dogs rests with the dog owners.

In a Facebook post, An Garda Síochana Meath wrote: "Lambing season is upon us again, so we would like to remind dog owners to please exercise care with their dogs to ensure they are kept under control and that the responsibility and associated costs with any sheep attacked by dogs lies with the dog-owners".

Meath IFA Sheep chairman, Peter McGuinness has also emphasised the importance of knowing where your dog is at all times and spoke about the impact sheep worrying incidents can have on ewes.

"We are asking people to be mindful of where their dogs are. If they are not at home during the day, that dogs are not left unattended to roam around. They might be having fun but it is a serious threat for both farmer and sheep. The knock-on effect is a serious financial cost for the farmer.

He said it is not just about the physical attacks that you see in the vicious images. "Even just running them around and bundling them into circles in the corner of the field has a knock on effect. Ewes can start aborting lambs through stress."

Peter pointed out that it is not just an issue for farms at the end of town but also for those further outside. "I'm living outside in the countryside, a good five to ten minutes from Trim but it has happened to us before. You don't have to be at the edge of a town. We ask people in the countryside to be mindful of where their dogs are too.

"People say they know their pets but they can take a brainwave some day and just decide to do these things."

Peter is also reminding people that if a dog is trespassing and is bothering or worrying sheep, it is within the farmer's rights to shoot the dog and while it is never a first choice, he is making people aware that it is an action that can be taken.

Meanwhile, the IFA recently launched its 2025 ‘No Dogs Allowed’ campaign. Speaking at the launch IFA President Francie Gorman said: "The devastation caused has to be brought home to those who think their dog would not attack livestock. Dog owners cannot absolve themselves of the wreckage left behind when sheep are attacked. The majority of responsible dog owners have a role here also."

He said IFA first launched the ‘No Dogs Allowed’ campaign in 2021 and despite continuous appeals for action, neither the Government nor local authorities has done enough to address the issue and called for stronger regulations and stricter enforcement.