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A shed of 235 sheep was attacked by two dogs outside Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, on Wednesday 27 February, leaving 190 injured and three sheep dead.
Thirty-five in-lamb ewes and another 30 or so sheep had to be put down as a result of their injuries.
Pat Murray, who sits on the IFA national sheep committee, said it was one of the worst dog attacks he has ever seen.
“The farmer fed the sheep in the morning. The dogs were seen in the vicinity around 9am and seen at 5pm again. They reckon dogs were there all day in the shed. They cleared a 5ft gate with galvanise to get into the shed,” he said.
“Two dogs, an Alsatian and a Doberman, have been captured. The gardaí were notified, but they didn’t arrive to the farm until Saturday when the dog warden rang them.
Broken legs
“There were a lot sheep with broken legs. The farmer is deeply distressed with what has happened. He didn’t sleep for a few nights after the attack,” he said.
In a separate incident on Tuesday 5 March, two sheep were injured by dogs in a field in Oulart, Co Wexford. The dog was not found.
Murray said there had been around 10 separate attacks in the county.
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