'Worrying' that dogs attacking farmer's livestock at record high during lambing season

The number of dogs attacking and killing farmer's livestock is at a six-year high with lambing season now underway. 

The Sheep Chair of the Irish Farmer Association's Carlow branch, Marion Dalton, has told KCLR that it's a "particularly dangerous" time for animals right now. 

"Worryingly enough, there was a recent statistic done by the Department of Agriculture and they have said that attacks on livestock by dogs have reached a six-year high, and they are up 4% on last year," she said. 

In 2024, six sheep and 12 lambs were killed by dogs at a family farm in Carlow.

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In the last few days, more sheep have been killed, according to the radio station.  

Marion added that "the current regulations in place are just not working."

The regulations in place state that farmers can legally shoot a dog if there is a concern that it will attack livestock.

The Control of Dogs Act 1986 states that "the owner or any other person in charge of the dog shall be guilty of an offence".