The Monaghan County Veterinary Officer has renewed calls for dog owners to keep their pet under control at all times.
Brendan Smyth said it is particularly important at this time of year as ewes are in lamb and young lambs in the field are especially vulnerable to dog attacks .Brendan Smyth reminds owners that dogs must be licensed, micro-chipped and registered on an approved database with a name tag on its collar for identification and tracing purposes. Where Monaghan County Council has adequate evidence in the event of sheep worrying or attack, the dog owner will be prosecuted and fined €300, the county veterinary officer said. The owner will also be expected to pay the farmer for their losses, which, Brendan Smyth warns, could run into thousands of weuro.
Mr Smyth told Northern Sound no one thinks their family pet is capable of maiming or killing a sheep but even, the worrying of sheep is an offence;
