Something is going to have to be done about dogs running after sheep on farms around the country, Louth farmer Peadar Elmore told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“My farm is at the foothill of the Cooley Mountains and there’s scenic walks overlooking my fields. I was standing in the yard on Friday 5 February when I noticed a small dog tearing down the field after my sheep,” Elmore said.
“I spotted the owners up on the path so I took off up the hill after them. The field is serious steep so the froth was leaving me by the time I reached the top. I asked them why the dog wasn’t on the leash and all hell broke loose.”
Tempers flared
Elmore phoned the gardaí while still with the walkers, reporting the sheep worrying which had taken place.
“The man started shouting back at me and it was like a red rag to a bull. I walked back down the trail with them hoping to stall them until the guards came. The man and his family then got into their car and tried to drive away.
“I stood behind the car and next thing he reversed into me and hit me in the stomach. The car was registered in Northern Ireland so I was struggling to remember the plate. I ran down the road to a narrow point and stood in the middle to try and get them stopped.
“There was half a river of water coming down the road that day and the car was coming flying. I knew he wasn’t going to get stopped in time so at the last minute I barrelled into the ditch and out of the road.”
Garda interception
Elmore contacted gardaí again to inform them that the man had left the area and was headed north.
“The guards told me they intercepted him near the border and fined him for being more than 5km from home and breaking COVID restrictions. They also fined him for having his dog off the lead.
“I was told the dog warden in the north will be taking up the case further. I was lucky to have been on the scene at the time to prevent a total melee on the sheep. Then again it’s not worth losing your life over a situation that turned nasty.”
Dog ban
Cooley IFA chair Matthew Mc Greehan highlights that people are welcome to walk and enjoy the Cooley Mountains but must abide by the Louth countryside code that prohibits walkers from bringing dogs up on the hills.
“We will try and cater for people walking and co-operate with the local authority, but unless you are a shareholder on the mountain you have no business bringing a dog.
“These sort of incidents are becoming very common unfortunately and it is leaving a very bad taste in sheep farmers’ mouths, some of whom are regretting allowing walks on their share of hill land.”
Read more
‘Dog attacks causing higher barren rates in Kerry hill flocks’
Farmer describes ‘soul destroying’ dog attack on sheep
Walkers urged not to take dogs on to hills
Something is going to have to be done about dogs running after sheep on farms around the country, Louth farmer Peadar Elmore told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“My farm is at the foothill of the Cooley Mountains and there’s scenic walks overlooking my fields. I was standing in the yard on Friday 5 February when I noticed a small dog tearing down the field after my sheep,” Elmore said.
“I spotted the owners up on the path so I took off up the hill after them. The field is serious steep so the froth was leaving me by the time I reached the top. I asked them why the dog wasn’t on the leash and all hell broke loose.”
Tempers flared
Elmore phoned the gardaí while still with the walkers, reporting the sheep worrying which had taken place.
“The man started shouting back at me and it was like a red rag to a bull. I walked back down the trail with them hoping to stall them until the guards came. The man and his family then got into their car and tried to drive away.
“I stood behind the car and next thing he reversed into me and hit me in the stomach. The car was registered in Northern Ireland so I was struggling to remember the plate. I ran down the road to a narrow point and stood in the middle to try and get them stopped.
“There was half a river of water coming down the road that day and the car was coming flying. I knew he wasn’t going to get stopped in time so at the last minute I barrelled into the ditch and out of the road.”
Garda interception
Elmore contacted gardaí again to inform them that the man had left the area and was headed north.
“The guards told me they intercepted him near the border and fined him for being more than 5km from home and breaking COVID restrictions. They also fined him for having his dog off the lead.
“I was told the dog warden in the north will be taking up the case further. I was lucky to have been on the scene at the time to prevent a total melee on the sheep. Then again it’s not worth losing your life over a situation that turned nasty.”
Dog ban
Cooley IFA chair Matthew Mc Greehan highlights that people are welcome to walk and enjoy the Cooley Mountains but must abide by the Louth countryside code that prohibits walkers from bringing dogs up on the hills.
“We will try and cater for people walking and co-operate with the local authority, but unless you are a shareholder on the mountain you have no business bringing a dog.
“These sort of incidents are becoming very common unfortunately and it is leaving a very bad taste in sheep farmers’ mouths, some of whom are regretting allowing walks on their share of hill land.”
Read more
‘Dog attacks causing higher barren rates in Kerry hill flocks’
Farmer describes ‘soul destroying’ dog attack on sheep
Walkers urged not to take dogs on to hills
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