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IRISH VET PETE Wedderburn is warning dog owners to neuter their pets, or risk them attacking sheep this spring.
Even dogs who don’t live in rural areas could also benefit from neutering, he said.
Wedderburn, of the Bray Vet clinic, says that incidents of dogs attacking sheep across the country can be linked to the non-neutering of dogs.
Benefits
“One of the main reasons why male dogs do leave their homes is the male hormones that make them want to seek bitches that are season,” he said.
If they are castrated they are much less likely to wander. You need to keep your dog in; you can’t just let your dog out. There is no doubt male hormones can drive dogs to perform ‘superdog’ feats of escaping out of a garden.
He added: “At this time of year you have sheep that are heavily pregnant and lambs that are nearly born.” He said that sheep are vulnerable to being chased while pregnant, and young lambs can be killed by dogs.
“Dogs tend to get excited about the hunt and they… might kill six or 10 sheep. In these circumstances the farmer has the legal right to shoot dead any marauding dogs. If it’s your pet that happens to run off, it could get shot.”
He said that another big reason why he is motivated to persuade people to neuter their dogs is because of the problem of unwanted puppies. “We still kill over 4000 dogs every year because they are not wanted,” he said. “A lot of those dogs are being born to accidental pregnancies.”
He is part of the Spay Aware campaign, who have recently begun surveying their supporters on the issue.
However, as they have found that over 90% of the respondents are female and a similar percentage have or would neuter their dogs, they need to get more of a male input. A survey is available to fill out online.
Men and spaying
“The big question is what happens with men out there?” said Wedderburn.
He said that he has anecdotally heard of situations where, “when a male dog is talked about being castrated that a male owner would roll his eyes and go ‘I wouldn’t want that happening to me’.”
He added that “not every male dog needs to be castrated” and that the owner and vet should discuss the issue, but that on average it is the best thing for pets.
It can benefit dogs that pee in the house, or mark objects or mount visitors, as well as dogs that fight or are aggressive.
Wedderburn said that some cancers in dogs can also be prevented through spaying.
He pointed out that from 2016, it will be compulsory to have all dogs microchipped, so dogs who do attack sheep could be tracked down to their owner.
Sheep attacks
In November, the Irish Farmers Association had warned about attacks on sheep flocks.
Its national sheep chairman John Lynskey warned dog owners that their pets “can inflict horrendous damage on a sheep flock in an attack” and that “the owners can be held responsible for the losses involved”.
He also said at the time: “Unfortunately, I am taking calls on a frequent basis from sheep farmers around the country who have suffered similar such attacks. There are far too many dog owners not taking the responsibility that goes with owning a pet..”
In 2013, the IFA launched a protocol to help farmers who may encounter a dog attacking their sheep.
If you would like to take part in the SpayAware survey, you can do so here.
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8 hounds from a hunt in East Clare went after sheep during a drag hunt 2 weeks ago..
They attacked 2 herds of neighbouring sheep..
1 of the farmers shot and killed 8 of the hounds who were attacking the sheep…
He was well within his rights …
You either control your dog or pay the price…..
Let’s neuter humans who abuse dogs
If it helps all responsible dog owners will get it done,and all irresponsible dog owners the ones that let their dogs wander off, should be neutered and spayed.
Only complete morons let there dog’s out unsupervised anyway.
There are times sadly when storms etc happen fences blow down, dog theft and then dumped, so many missing dogs around this country with owners frantically looking for them. I agree anyone who willingly let’s their dogs roam are morons but sadly it can happen to the best dog owners and sadly the outcomes are not good… Unfair world… :( I’m involved in rescue and there are so many lost pets in Ireland with no sign….
A spayed dog is just as likely to chase sheep as an unspayed dog.
You are right of course…. but the point is that the hormonal drive makes dogs more likely wander away from the control of their owner in the first place. This is true for male dogs all the time, and for female dogs when they are in season. So if dogs are spayed/neutered, they are less likely to be out on their own, so less likely to be in a situation where they are able to chase sheep.
What’s the usual charge for neutering a dog?
I had one years ago, jumped 9ft fence, and got to sheep worrying. Neutered some years, damaged back leg due to RTA, rescue dog and he hated all other animals.
It varies – depends on age/size/type/gender of dog and it depends on locality – best to phone around local vets with the individual animal’s details to find out
Loving the image of the terrified looking sheep accompanying the article.
Oh and by the way just cause were on about farming dogs ,like us city folk when ye bring yere dogs into a town for a mart or anything pick your dog crap up after you , my good mate lives in a busy mart town and all outside her door and window on certain days it’s like a doggy poop stop .Pick it up ye filthy animals
Irish dog owners are abysmal at picking up their dodgy doo. English are, too.
Oops, dodgy and doggy.
Animals far more magnificent than any we know today, were crapping everywhere for millions of years before civilisation existed, because it was their planet long before it was outs, but we’ve decided we own the world now so it’s no longer acceptable because it’s “icky” and we’ve got tiles bathrooms. Evolution is funny.
Lost a hen to a dog once. People should not let their dogs wander even for a moment.
The remains of a little lamb was left on our drive last year by the neighbours husky who got out. My 6 year old found it. Horrific!
Husky dogs are worst for that. I know all dogs can but husky is certain to go after sheep.
See a dog in field with sheep or roaming neat sheep only solution is the scope or two barrels. Problem solved
So many dogs being shot around the country on farms. It’s an awful situation that’s becoming more frequent. Two boxers were shot in Wicklow a few weeks back. They were not killed but left to die. The poor owners loved their pets that had escaped just that once. Both dogs needed a lot of vet care. This was very bad on the farmers part not reporting it. And leaving them to suffer. By law a farmer should ring and inform they have shot a dog. They don’t tend to this. And they tend to be a bit trigger happy also. People of Ireland secure your pets and please stop abandoning them.
If farmers should ring and inform the owners that they’ve shot their dog should the owners not ring and tell the farmer their dogs are on the loose and have a hankering for lamb??
The farmer should contact the relevant authorities. A poor family were missing there dog for days that had escaped not so long ago. They searched their area for days. The farmer who shot the dog never informed anyone and knew the family and watched them search helplessly for their dog which he shot. I know it’s sometimes necessary for farmers to shoot dogs when they are attacking their livestock I am just saying it would help if they could inform the authorities when they do so… It ends a lot of people searching for their beloved dog.. I’ve seen these cases so many times with families frantically searching for their dogs . I would rather know than not know…
It’s also in law that a farmer should contact authorities when they do shoot a dog.
No its not the law to inform anyone. Dog on your land or lands you have permission to shoot on if you keep lifestock then shoot even before they worry them.
No offence but loose dogs in wicklow of all places. That’s like huge sheep farming county. Once is all a dog needs to get out to kill.
I’ve a dog I’m lucky he is not a wondering dog but he would be secure. He would be most gentle thing but if he got into field with sheep sooner or later instinct kicks in.
Dogs are hunters don’t ever forget that.
A farmer however would inform gardai because the owner commited an offence letting the dogs roam.
Also to track down the owner to repay the bill of how many dead sheep or aborts they would have.
You should give your dog a book on philosophy , it might just make him wonder more .
Yes. Do finish it quickly for it is cruel to leave them to suffer.
I refuse to spay my sheep!
Pete Wedderburn and Spay are are a joke. Spay Aware sponsored by DoneDeal. Done Deal are the largest advertisers of puppy farmers in Ireland. It’s akin to a cancer ward being sponsored by Marlborough.
Pete sings the praises of the wonderful work Done Deal do with their PR campaign PetAware. Until he drops his association with them and Spay Aware actually do something like open up a reduced cost neutering clinic their ramblings are purely a promotional stunt run by a gullible volunteer who they don’t pay a salary to.
Well said Mary… Done deal aka skum deal… 10000 pups were advertised the weeks leading up to Xmas. 10000 dogs put down in same year. Shocking pete the vet continues to support skum deal
Always good to neuter pets like dogs and cats…
Very silly headline how would the dog know that the sheep were neutered. The headline should read dogs that are not neutered are more likely to attack sheep
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