Last time I'll break for a dog

Conmaicne Mara

Late last year a local dog was let off by its owner and ran out in front of me, braked hard but hit it damaging one of my front fogs, dog uninjured.

Yesterday another local farmer told me the same dog took off on the owner and so far is into double figures on ewes and lambs killed on a commonage, with nearly as many 'waiting to die' after Vet treatment.

Planned to let my ewes, lambs, and joggers out on the neighbouring commonage this week. That's of the agenda now until this problem is eliminated.

Green farmer

Pure disgraceful. I wonder is the local dog owner willing to pay compensation for the damaged caused. ???? I can guess the answer to that !!!

_Brian

Needs to be held accountable.
Have the guards been contacted yet?

Dogs being let wild and their careless owners both need to be held accountable. <modsnip> !!

farming93

A local man to me lost between 40 and 50 lambs and seven ewes last year over the space of 6 weeks. These were three different incidents from the same two dogs, they ran most of the lambs/ewes into the river and just killed the rest by breaking theyre necks. The farmer only got compensated for seven lambs and three ewes because he caught the owner in the field trying to catch the dogs after the other attacks the owner just told him to come back with proof the next time. He contacted the Guards but there wasnt much they could do but to be fair to them they did drive up and down the road a couple of times every week after it. The dogs are now "securely" locked up for now. Also I just had a pet lamb badly attacked by a dog this morning the dog nearly turned on me when I went to its aid, unfortunetly the lamb strayed off our property so theres nothing I can do about it, makes your blood boil though!

Green farmer

I don't have a gun, but reading these, I might have to rethink that !!! If a dog wonders into your field , pass no apologies.

solerina

One of our neighbours puts out poison and has killed loads of dogs in recent years...if an owner complains he just says 'if the dog wasn't where it wasn't supposed to be it wouldn't have picked up the poison'. I cant say I disagree with his stance as he has had loads of sheep killed by dogs over the years !!

Birdnuts

These people should be banned from ever having a dog. At least now all dogs will need to be chipped so it should help with the identity of the owner. Any dog without a chip should be confiscated.

Birdnuts

solerina wrote: »

One of our neighbours puts out poison and has killed loads of dogs in recent years...if an owner complains he just says 'if the dog wasn't where it wasn't supposed to be it wouldn't have picked up the poison'. I cant say I disagree with his stance as he has had loads of sheep killed by dogs over the years !!

That's an illegal, cruel, indiscriminate and dangerous method which results in the death of non-target species. Such practices do nothing for the image of farming or farmers in this country. :mad:

farming93

Green Farmer a gun is very handy to have, I had to shoot a very large canine in a neighbours field this year chasing his in-lamb ewes four people in the field including the owner couldnt control the dog over a sixteen acre field (I also fired warning shots in the air) . I can imagine the dog would have ran all day only for the gun. Luckily none of his sheep were injured and as far as I know he got a decent enough crop.

Kovu

solerina wrote: »

One of our neighbours puts out poison and has killed loads of dogs in recent years...if an owner complains he just says 'if the dog wasn't where it wasn't supposed to be it wouldn't have picked up the poison'. I cant say I disagree with his stance as he has had loads of sheep killed by dogs over the years !!

While I know it's not you but your neighbour doing it, I would be having a word to the authorities about him, especially as this has been highlighted in the past.

http://www.wicklownews.net/2013/09/endangered-bird-of-prey-poisoned-in-wicklow/

Genghis Cant

Green farmer wrote: »

I don't have a gun, but reading these, I might have to rethink that !!! If a dog wonders into your field , pass no apologies.

If a dog is gonna be shot make sure the law is on your side. It's a little more complicated that simply cutting loose on any dog in a field.
Here's the relevant Section of the relevant Act :

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1986/en/act/pub/0032/sec0023.html#sec23

It's absolutely nessessary and reasonable to shoot a dog worrying livestock, but every stock man should know where he stands legally before he pulls the trigger!

Green farmer

Thanks gengis,

It's only correct to know the law. I think any reasonable person would not take the decision to shoot a dog likely unless no other option was available.

hiddenmongoose

.Anyone who has seen what a dog or dogs can do in a nights worrying would have no sympathy or hesitation to shoot them.Im a dog owner myself and love my dogs and I make sure they cannot get out of my yard and into the fields surrounding me.That said Iv also been called to shoot dogs worrying sheep before and unfortunately Im sure I will have do it again.Dog owners need to be responsible for ensuring their dogs are secure within their own property and cant stray.

Genghis Cant

hiddenmongoose wrote: »

.Dog owners need to be responsible for ensuring their dogs are secure within their own property and cant stray.

Mandatory microchipping. An absolute papertrail linking every dog to an owner.

FWIW I'd have little sympathy or hesitation shooting a dog worrying livestock, I wouldn't be foolish enough to do it on a whim or on a half truth thus would recommend every stockman know the legal standing.

AnFeirmeoir

Makes your blood boil alright. Problem is non sheep owners don't understand the suffering their pet can cause to a flock of sheep and they think it's cruel to shoot a dog for doing a bit of running around

ganmo

living in the dublin hills its amazing the amount of ignorant townies out walking with there dogs off the lead, which unfortunately this year resulted in a number of attacks, all due to a pair of dogs, never got a shot off at them but the dog warden and guards are involved(we had a massive amount of luck in catching the people)
Been practicing on rabbits since...running out

Username John

ganmo wrote: »

living in the dublin hills its amazing the amount of ignorant townies out walking with there dogs off the lead, which unfortunately this year resulted in a number of attacks, all due to a pair of dogs, never got a shot off at them but the dog warden and guards are involved(we had a massive amount of luck in catching the people)
Been practicing on rabbits since...running out

Did you catch em ganmo?

Green farmer

Slightly of topic. I had hunters around a few times a week for the last few weeks. They got a good few foxes. What I was amazed by was once the foxes were eliminated, within a week, they were replaced with hares. A load of them running about now. I hadn't seen one in a good few years, but their in my garden every morning now. To be honest I like seeing them and wouldn't like to shoot them .

ganmo

Username John wrote: »

Did you catch em ganmo?

didn't get the dogs(they got back onto coilte ground). I followed the people and got their number plate when they got back to the car park. They got a serve landing when the guard and dog warden appeared at their door

deano2882

Own dogs meself and have seen first hand what can happen to lambs when in lamb ewes are attacked deformed lambs still born and if only 1 ewe is chased or attacked it effects the whole flock that is in that field..as a hunter have sat out watching sheep at all hours with a local farmer that had sheep attacked with no joy but even if my own dogs got out and done this I wud put them down as it is not on to have dogs doing this poison I do not agree with as a humane kill is only fair..