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| 'Horrific' sheep attacks almost double in Northern Ireland | 'Horrific' sheep attacks almost double in Northern Ireland |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| New figures show that attacks on sheep by dogs across Northern Ireland have almost doubled over the last year. | New figures show that attacks on sheep by dogs across Northern Ireland have almost doubled over the last year. |
| In 2012, 67 incidents of sheep worrying were reported to police. That number rose to 126 in 2013. | In 2012, 67 incidents of sheep worrying were reported to police. That number rose to 126 in 2013. |
| However, these figures are likely to only be the tip of the iceberg as most farmers do not report the attacks to the police. | However, these figures are likely to only be the tip of the iceberg as most farmers do not report the attacks to the police. |
| Sheep worrying is when a dog chases a flock of sheep, often injuring or killing some of them. | Sheep worrying is when a dog chases a flock of sheep, often injuring or killing some of them. |
| Mark and Samantha Robinson farm Ile De France sheep just outside Portadown, County Armagh. | Mark and Samantha Robinson farm Ile De France sheep just outside Portadown, County Armagh. |
| Their flock has been attacked three times in the last year by dogs and a number of their sheep have been killed. | Their flock has been attacked three times in the last year by dogs and a number of their sheep have been killed. |
| "The first time it happened, our ewes were in lamb and when it came to lambing, it threw them all off," Mr Robinson said. | "The first time it happened, our ewes were in lamb and when it came to lambing, it threw them all off," Mr Robinson said. |
| "Some of them lambed early and some of them lost lambs and we lost a number of ewes." | "Some of them lambed early and some of them lost lambs and we lost a number of ewes." |
| Mr Robinson said the second attack also left the flock worried, but it was the third, most recent attack, that caused the most damage. | Mr Robinson said the second attack also left the flock worried, but it was the third, most recent attack, that caused the most damage. |
| A dog entered the Robinsons' field and started attacking the sheep. A number were killed, but one, called Lily, survived. | A dog entered the Robinsons' field and started attacking the sheep. A number were killed, but one, called Lily, survived. |
| Scars | |
| "The dog mauled her on the neck and tore her whole neck open," Mr Robinson said. | "The dog mauled her on the neck and tore her whole neck open," Mr Robinson said. |
| "We had to take her up to the house and put her on antibiotics and treat her for a long time before we could put her back out again. | "We had to take her up to the house and put her on antibiotics and treat her for a long time before we could put her back out again. |
| "The sheep stayed at the top of the field all the time because there was a house nearby and they felt safer and it took a long period of time before they would start to wander around the field again. | "The sheep stayed at the top of the field all the time because there was a house nearby and they felt safer and it took a long period of time before they would start to wander around the field again. |
| "Lily has come round, but unfortunately because of the scars we will never be able to show this sheep." | "Lily has come round, but unfortunately because of the scars we will never be able to show this sheep." |
| Mr Robinson said he was not surprised the number of incidents had increased. | Mr Robinson said he was not surprised the number of incidents had increased. |
| "Once dogs get a taste for it, it's very hard to get them to stop doing it," he said. | "Once dogs get a taste for it, it's very hard to get them to stop doing it," he said. |
| Mark's wife Samantha said she was angry when she discovered the flock had been attacked again. | Mark's wife Samantha said she was angry when she discovered the flock had been attacked again. |
| "It's devastating. It's soul-destroying to go out and see your sheep maimed and upset and in the ditch," she said. | "It's devastating. It's soul-destroying to go out and see your sheep maimed and upset and in the ditch," she said. |
| "It's the fear of wondering how many are dead, lost or maimed and then it's the financial worry after that. | "It's the fear of wondering how many are dead, lost or maimed and then it's the financial worry after that. |
| "To see necks ripped out, ears off, stomach open and chests ripped off is very distressing. | "To see necks ripped out, ears off, stomach open and chests ripped off is very distressing. |
| "It's sad to see something that you have worked very hard to get to show quality and then to see it killed." | |
| Responsible | |
| The number of attacks is likely to be a lot higher as the BBC understands that there were 40 attacks in the Armagh area alone in 2013 and 17 already in 2014. | |
| One farmer in Tandragee had almost 40 sheep killed last week by a single dog that got into his field. | One farmer in Tandragee had almost 40 sheep killed last week by a single dog that got into his field. |
| The figures from the police were obtained via a freedom of information request for the Take the Lead campaign that was organised by the National Sheep Association and the Farmers Guardian. | |
| Edward Adamson, the Northern Ireland manager of the National Sheep Association, said dog owners had to be more responsible. | Edward Adamson, the Northern Ireland manager of the National Sheep Association, said dog owners had to be more responsible. |
| Mr Adamson said when sheep worrying occurs there can be "horrific results". | Mr Adamson said when sheep worrying occurs there can be "horrific results". |
| "Some dogs, when they are loose, they are just out for a race and run round, but once they go into a field of sheep the sheep get spooked and they start to run. | "Some dogs, when they are loose, they are just out for a race and run round, but once they go into a field of sheep the sheep get spooked and they start to run. |
| "The dog being a dog will start to chase and they can chase them into corners and just pile in and tear lumps out of them". | "The dog being a dog will start to chase and they can chase them into corners and just pile in and tear lumps out of them". |
| Mr Adamson encouraged farmers to report incidents to the police. | Mr Adamson encouraged farmers to report incidents to the police. |
| He warned dog owners that farmers had the right to shoot any dog caught worrying their sheep and that owners could also be liable to pay for damages. | He warned dog owners that farmers had the right to shoot any dog caught worrying their sheep and that owners could also be liable to pay for damages. |
| The BBC asked the Department of Agriculture and Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill to respond to the growing number of attacks on sheep, but a spokesperson said it was not their responsibility. | The BBC asked the Department of Agriculture and Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill to respond to the growing number of attacks on sheep, but a spokesperson said it was not their responsibility. |
| A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "The worrying of livestock falls under the Dogs (NI) Order 1983 and is enforced by the local council. | A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "The worrying of livestock falls under the Dogs (NI) Order 1983 and is enforced by the local council. |
| "Police would always urge dog owners to ensure their animals are under control to prevent incidents of sheep worrying." | "Police would always urge dog owners to ensure their animals are under control to prevent incidents of sheep worrying." |