We report this week the vicious attack on a herd of sheep by marauding dogs at a farm in the Anglesboro area. The pictures make for difficult viewing but it is important that all dog owners see the damage that their family pet is capable of.

A reported 740 sheep were killed or injured by dog attacks since last year’s lambing season according to new Irish Farmers’ Association figures. The solution to this rests fairly and squarely with dog owners who must know that, under the law, farmers are entitled to take whatever steps are necessary to protect their flocks against marauding dogs on their lands.

Up to 2.5m lambs will be born on 30,000 sheep farms across the country over the next few months. Sheep flocks are very vulnerable to dog attacks at this critical time and they never recover fully. Sheep that have been attacked suffer ongoing difficulties, including reproduction problems and increased nervousness.

Many dog owners are under the impression that their pet would never do such a thing but dogs, regardless of size or breed, particularly if joined by one or two others, do what they like best – and that is to take part in the chase. It is therefore the duty of every dog owner, to ensure their animals are kept safely under their control at all times.

There is also of course, a responsibility on farmers to dispose of their dead animals properly. Last week’s report on this paper of animal carcases being dumped at Glengarra reflected badly on the farming community. This is an isolated case but must equally be condemned.