Tipperary council puts pressure on Government to reform dog laws in wake of sheep kills

Tipperary County Council has been mandated by its elected members to write to two Government ministers appealing for a series of legislative reforms to prevent vicious dog attacks on farmers’ sheep flocks. 

Councillors  unanimously passed a motion at their January meeting in Clonmel requesting the local authority to write to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue and  Rural & Community Development Minister Heather Humphreys requesting key changes to the Control of Dogs Act Legislation and Dangerous Dogs Act. 

The motion, tabled by Independent Cllr Michael O’Meara, specifically requests that a “complete reform” of dog owners’ responsibilities be immediately enacted in the Control of Dogs Act legislation to protect public and animal safety. 

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Fifteen sheep killed in dog attack on a county Tipperary farm

Gardaí are investigating the attack that happened on a farm in the Cloneen area

And it seeks an immediate review of the Dangerous Dogs Act to ban ownership of  dog breeds deemed dangerous in this state. 

The motion also calls for  the enshrining of a proper public indemnity insurance requirement for all dog owners in new legislation. 

Cllr O’Meara was prompted to table the motion by the recent horrific case in which a farmer from Redwood, Lorrha lost 70 sheep when his flock was savagely attacked by dogs over the Christmas period. Forty-five of his sheep were killed outright, another 20 had to be put down because they were so badly injured and another five are missing. Gardaí in Nenagh are investigating the case. 

This case was followed shortly after by the killing of 15 ewes belonging to a farmer in the Kilnagranagh area of Cloneen on Friday, December 30. 

The Roscrea councillor sympathised with the farming family that suffered such a huge loss to their sheep flock in the Lorrha area. They had suffered a psychological as well as financial trauma. 

He referred to how the Taoiseach has questioned why a lot of people own dogs that are among 12 breeds deemed dangerous by the Veterinary Council of Ireland. 

Constituents had contacted him concerned that these dangerous breeds of dogs are being brought into the country. 

“I know it’s a tall order to ask but I would encourage all politicians to come together and change this legislation to ensure these dogs are banned. I have seen the carnage in my area.” 

 Ardfinnan Cllr Micheál Anglim, a farmer who has lost sheep to  dog attacks, pointed out that all dogs, no matter what their breed, should be locked up at night. And he agreed there was no place for dangerous dog breeds in this county. 

Newcastle Cllr Máirín McGrath reminded the council she raised similar concerns at a council meeting last May after 27 sheep were killed by a dog in the Knockmealdowns Mountains commonage near Newcastle. 

She repeated her call made then for a public awareness campaign to inform dog owners of their responsibilities to not let  dogs roam freely when they take them for walks in mountainous areas due to sheep being farmed there.

 The awful Lorrha sheep kill further strengthened the need for an awareness campaign around dog owners’ responsibilities. 

The Council’s Director of Environment Services Eamon Lonergan said Cllr O’Meara’s motion was excellent and he had no problem bringing it to the e relevant  Government departments. 

He welcomed the setting up of a working group by Ministers McConalogue and Humphreys to examine issues in relation to the Control of Dogs Act in the wake of the Lorrha sheep kill and hoped it will result in legislative change. 

He agreed there needs to be a public awareness campaign to help prevent dog attacks on sheep. 

He indicated the council was going to look  at doing such a campaign internally.