Sheep injured after savage attack by dogs on rural land
By Mary Dennehy
AS LAMBING season approaches, dog owners are being reminded to keep their pets under control and on a lead when walking in rural areas – after a flock of sheep in Glensamole was recently injured in a savage attack that saw clumps of their wool and skin ripped off.
In recent months, a number of sheep grazing on land in areas such as Bohernabreena, Glenasmole and the Featherbeds have been set upon by dogs left run wild while out walking with their owners.
Glenasmole farmer Donie Anderson recently had six sheep injured when a number of dogs chased his flock down from the hills before trapping them up against a gate and “tearing off” their wool and skin.
Donie told The Echo: “There are very few dogs that have a call back from a distance other than sheep and gun dogs and it’s only natural that when a dog sees something like a sheep, a lamb or a rabbit that it will want to run after it
“It’s great that people are visiting and walking in the mountain areas however, they need to be responsible and keep their dogs on a lead.
“We have had a number of sheep attacked on the hills in recent months and from May, when the weather starts getting a bit kinder, we’ll be bringing the lambs up onto the hills.”
The local farmer, who was named Tallaght Person of the Year in 2013, stressed that lambs cannot sustain chases from dogs, with any animal surviving an attack left distressed and carrying various injuries.
Donie, whose family has farmed land in Castlekenny in Glenasmole for generations, also highlighted the other dangers posed by loose dogs to wildlife and vegetation on the hills.
“Alongside the dangers posed to sheep and lambs by uncontrolled dogs, other wildlife is also being disturbed”, Donie said.
“Ground nesting birds such as pheasants and grouse are nesting at the minute and loose dogs can disturb them and other wildlife such as rabbits.
“All we’re asking is that people make sure to keep their dog on a lead when up in the hills and mountains and to think of the animals, wildlife and vegetation that these areas are home to.”
