You may have read in the news last week that several sheep have been killed, and a lamb orphaned, in a vicious dog attack near Ballaugh Plantation.

This is the third year in a row that such an attack has taken place in the area, and it highlights the growing issue of such attacks on livestock.

There have been 40 separate incidents reported over the last two years, and some dog owners are simply not acting responsibly.

Increase in stray dogs

This is borne out by the number of dogs that are brought to us under the dog warden scheme, which the Society runs jointly with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

In 2015 the service dealt with 134 dogs, and in 2016 this figure increased to 163 dogs - an increase of more than 20 per cent.

The commonest reason for dogs going missing while they are out on walks is that they disappear because they start to chase something, usually a rabbit.

And the most frequent cause of dogs escaping from their home is that they are able to get out of a garden that has not been adequately secured.

Escape artists

Un-neutered dogs, both male and female, are more likely to stray in search of a mate and so there is an easy answer to ’how do I stop my dog from roaming?’ in these cases - neutering has many other benefits, too, and can improve a dog’s behaviour and general health.

Stopping your dog from running off when you are out for a walk is more difficult to prevent, unless you keep your dog on a lead or a long-line.

We do have an abundance of beautiful beaches, though, where dogs can run free once you have perfected their ’recall’ abilities.

We have seven beaches that dogs can use at any time but 17 have restrictions, particularly during the Summer months, and so dog owners need to make sure they comply with these.

The exercise fields at Ard Jerkyll have eight feet perimeter fencing because some breeds of dog can jump (or scramble and jump) that high, and so please bear this in mind when considering whether your back garden is a secure area.

Dolly the dynamo

Believe it or not Dolly, the two-year-old Jack Russell currently in our rescue kennels, can jump six feet. She is a tan and white dynamo, with an abundance of energy and ’bounce’.

She is a fun-loving and intelligent dog, but she is reactive towards other dogs (which is why she came to us) and so her new owner will need to have the knowledge and commitment to help her with this.

We are recommending that Dolly be the only dog in a household, and that she is not rehomed with young children.

Mila, the four-year-old Rottweiler who featured in last week’s article, is still with us.

As you can see she is a beautiful dog, and her gentle and placid nature makes her a delight to be with - she is loving and affectionate indoors, and outdoors she is incredibly well mannered on the lead.

She came to us because of her previous owner’s ill health and not because of any behavioural or health issues, and so we are hopeful that she will find new owners soon.

She can be a bit unsure around other dogs and so an introduction to another dog in the household would need to be very carefully managed, with the support of the kennels team.

Returning to the main theme of this week’s article, we all have a part to play in helping to keep livestock safe: dog owners need to be extra vigilant even if they have the gentlest and best behaved canine companion (a dog simply has to run loose amid a flock of sheep, and not necessarily attack them, to cause damage); and anyone witnessing a dog disturbing livestock needs to report the incident to the Police immediately.

This week’s Isle of Man Examiner includes an interview with a farmer whose sheep were killed.