A Leitrim sheep farmer is calling on the Government to introduce new legislation that would see increased penalties for owners of dogs that attack livestock.
The call comes following the killing of 25 sheep on a farm in Leitrim in recent days.
Vice chair of the IFA Sheep committee Kevin Comiskey says they will be seeking a meeting with the Agriculture Minister and hope to set up a mandatory database for dogs which would be linked to an owner's PPS number or eircode.
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He believes current fines are too lenient which is resulting in farmers not reporting these attacks.
The IFA official says these killings are impacting farmers both financially and mentally, particularly in the run up to lambing season.
