Recent dog attacks on sheep in Armagh prompts a politician to urge pet owners to be responsible and protect livestock.
Aoife Finnegan asked pet owners to take responsibility. Dogs killed sheep recently. It happened at night.
Farmers face a very upsetting situation. We all love our pets, she said. Keep pets safe at home. Don’t let them harm farms. Farming is already hard enough. Losing livestock makes it worse.
Dogs chasing sheep can cause serious harm. Even if dogs don’t catch them, stress from dogs can kill sheep. Pregnant ewes can lose their lambs.
Sheep try to escape attacks. This can damage fences and ruin field boundaries. Ewes and lambs separate during chases, then lambs die from starvation or cold.
Dog bites can kill sheep. Sometimes, they need to be put down. Even minor injuries mean expensive vet bills. Injuries can disrupt farm work. Mating season can be affected, and medicine and vaccines might get delayed.
Sheep worrying causes long-term damage, she said. Farmers face emotional and mental health issues. This all costs farmers money and hurts their ability to make a living.
Farmers follow health and welfare rules. Sheep worrying frustrates farmers a lot. Their hard work can be ruined quickly and it’s completely beyond their control.