Stronger Dog Control Laws Must Be Implemented Quickly Following Dog Attack on Cattle

Kildare IFA Livestock Chair Paul McDonald has called on the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to fast-track stronger laws around dog control following recent devastating attacks on cattle in the North Kildare area.

Similiar attacks have occured across Tipperary in recent months and the issue is now a live concern for farmers nationwide. 

In the past number of days, a yearling bullock belonging to a North Kildare farmer had to be put down by vets due to horrific injuries caused by a dog attack.

Another bullock had to be put down a month ago having also been targeted by a dog. 

“The devastation being caused by uncontrolled dogs across the country is not acceptable, and the delay by the Minister to act on this prevalent issue is not good enough,” Paul McDonald said.

“The effects of such an attack on a farm are widespread, the farmer cannot sleep at night without fear of loosing another animal. More must be done immediately to ensure farmers around the country stop bearing the costs of such devastating
attacks,” he added.

“IFA have been working hard to highlight the need for dog control laws to be strengthened up, but the Minister continues to fail in implementing stricter laws. The longer farmers have to wait, the more common these sorts of attacks will become,”
the Kildare IFA Livestock Chair said.

Stronger regulations were brought before Government Cabinet in recent months which IFA recognised as a step in the right direction but more is needed to be done to not just prevent dog attacks on livestock but bring forward serious consequences
for the owners of dogs found attacking livestock.

IFA are again appealing to all dog owners to be extra vigilant of their dogs and their whereabouts at all times, especially at this time of the year when livestock are now out grazing.