Council issues reminder to dog owners as lambing season approaches

Louth County Council have today issued a warning to dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities and the potential risk of harm to sheep during the lambing season.

The warning came after the local authority revealed it investigated 14 incidents of sheep worrying in the last year.

living with the devastation that substance misuse causes.

The date also marks FASN’s ‘Stop the Stigma’ Campaign highlighting the negative consequences of the damage addiction stigma causes on the health and well-being of people with substance use disorder but also the effect stigma can have on the bereavement process of loved ones who loses someone to addiction.

FASN want to stress to all family members who have lost loved ones that they are not alone in their grief.

Gwen McKenna, FASN Family Support Specialist states “The loss of a loved one through addiction is a complicated bereavement. Every family’s loss is individual however their experiences can be so similar – the death though sometimes anticipated and feared – will often come as a huge shock. The death is often a traumatic one and the person is lost before their time which has a devastating effect on those left behind.

Our service will provide families and loved ones a space to grieve for their loved ones in a spirit of dignity and hope, an opportunity commonly stolen from families affected by substance misuse as a result of stigma.”

The commemoration ceremony is also to offer hope to families of those still involved in addiction or recovery as Gwen stressed that the work of FASN will continue to advocate for better services for families and that their loved ones need personcentered, accessible, and early intervention.

FASN will continue to fight for family support to be accessible for anyone who needs it across the North East.

Gwen went on to say that everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony in remembrance of our loved ones who left us too soon.

“We invite anyone who wants to remember their loved ones to come along to the ceremony. We will come together to mourn and remember, but we also celebrate their lives and we look ahead to the future,” she said. “It is so important for us to come together to remember those we’ve lost and remember that their lives mattered. This in turn will help us to further commit to working together as a community to help the next person in active addiction so we don’t lose them.”

“Grief is the last act of love that we have to give those that we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love. Our ceremony will give family members the opportunity to come together to acknowledge and support each other in our grief and acknowledge the love we have for those we have lost. ” she added.

Where: Redemptorist Hall, St Joseph’s Monastery, St Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland, A91 F3FC at 7pm.

When: 24th Feb, 2023 at 7 pm

Note: Free Parking is available. The event is followed by refreshments and a chance to chat.

Dog owners have legal responsibilities under the Control of Dogs Act 1986, as amended, which provides for the protection of livestock from worrying by dogs, and where dogs are found to worry livestock this can result in the owner committing and being found guilty of an offense which can includes fines and/or prison.

When outside the home dog owners must legally ensure that their dogs are under ‘effectual’ control at all times.

When visiting commonage or farm areas, all dog owners should observe and respect local signage around entry and leads, and it is recommended that dogs are left at home if accessing land where livestock are present or close by during the lambing season.

Louth County Council are asking dog owners, and anyone walking or exercising dogs, to be aware that the presence of dogs, even with playful intent, can cause great anxiety within a flock of sheep.

During the winter months this can prevent ewes from coming into season. In lambing season it is the main cause of stillbirths and mis- carriages, which can occur a number of days after contact with dogs.

Dog owners must have control of their dogs at all times.

Owners are asked to be vigilant, and to ensure they know where dogs under their care are at all times , as attacks often occur at night.

Garret Shine, Louth County Veterinarian, explained that in 2022 Louth County Council were called out to and investigated 14 incidences of sheep worrying.

He warned that the penalties “can be very significant for both the owner and the dog, and compensation due to the farmer can be high.”

“Nobody wants to see any animal unnecessarily hurt or killed, be they a farm animal or family pet. During the lambing season in particular the message to dog owners is to keep your dogs under control and keep them in at night if you live near or on farmland. The family pet can become a completely different animal when in a pack resulting in devastating consequences for all.”

He added that all dogs which are apprehended will be scanned for microchip and will be impounded.

Please report wandering dogs and suspicious sights to the Louth County Council Dog Warden section at 042-9324345 or by email on vets@louthcoco.ie

Finally, make sure that your dog(s) are registered and microchipped and that a current licence is in place for each of them – this is now a legal requirement for ALL dogs.