Graphic Images: Devastated Laois farmer issues appeal after sheep kill

A devastated Laois farmer whose sheep were killed at the weekend has appealed to people to keep their dogs under control.

Keith Allen likened the sheep kill to a scene from a horror movie. He wanted people to see the graphic images of his dead sheep and to know that: “This is what your pets do on a Saturday afternoon.”

He had been surprised not to find his sheep bounding towards him when he arrived to feed them at their trough at Kilcoke, Ballybrophy last Saturday evening. 

The sheep didn’t appear as usual and when some slowly approached Mr Allen he realised there was a problem. “I saw a lamb in behind the wire fence,” he said. “I had to drag him out over the wire,” he explained. Then, he said, “I saw one with a tail missing.”  

He then went searching and found a dead sheep and two stuck in a ditch where they had fled.  “It is the worst, you don’t realise what it is like,” he said.  

“I lost two, ten badly damaged. There was 71 in the field and the rest badly traumatised,” Mr Allen explained. 

This is not the first time he has witnessed the aftermath of sheep kills. “It is the third time in  my lifetime. It is a long time it happened ago,” Mr Allen said. 

“I thought I would never see it again. It was like a scene out of a horror movie,” he said. 

The incident was reported to Gardai who called around to local houses and are continuing to investigate the sheep kill. 

A spate of recent attacks by dogs has caused fear among the farming community. “There is a lot of farmers in the midlands, all the lads around here, are watching their flocks,” Keith said.

He believes the attack on his sheep occurred in Ballybrophy at around 5pm on Saturday, December 10. He asked anyone who saw any dogs in the vicinity to contact the Gardai in Borris-in-Ossory or Rathdowney. 

Keith contacted the vet who advised him to leave the flock alone. He said they are all eating but remain traumatised and are best not approached as they can panic. “They go through wire and they do more harm,” Keith explained.  

Irish Farmer's Association says ‘priority actions’ are underway following horrific dog attacks in Kildare

Laois Irish Farmers’ Association(IFA) Chairperson John Fitzpatrick expressed frustration at the lack of action in tackling the problem. He said 70 sheep had been killed in just two attacks in Kildare and on the Offaly Tipperary border in recent days. 

“We are seeing it every year and it just doesn’t seem to be improving,” said Mr Fitzpatrick. 

“It is a very distressing thing for anybody to see a sheep kill. It is distressing for the animals and the farmer,” he said. 

“It has to stop. We are a little bit frustrated with people saying this has to be done and that needs to be done,” he said. 

Mr Fitzpatrick said the IFA wants all dogs microchipped and national database created where their ownership details are kept. He said something needs to be done to make the owner of the dog responsible. 

“What we are seeing an increase in is people out walking and letting the dog off the leash,” he said. Mr Fitzpatrick explained that any and all dogs have the potential to become killers if the circumstances arise. “The dog won’t obey that is on the gate,” he said. 

He said people need to lock up their animals at night time. They need to be responsible for their dogs and keep them under control, he explained.

He wants a data base, tougher sanctions for irresponsible dog owners and increased policing of the matter. 

Dog owners are liable for the financial loss suffered by farmers. Farmers can legally shoot dogs who worry animals on their land. 

Mr Fitzpatrick believes dog owners behaving responsibly remains the biggest factor when it comes to sheep kills.