THE COUNTY is reaching crisis point in its ability to tackle the problem of dog attacks.
That is the contention of councillors speaking out on the issue at this month’s meeting of Wexford County Council.
In response to a spate of recent dog attacks on herds of sheep across North Wexford, Fianna Fail councillor Pip Breen raised the issue of which Special Protocol Committee had responsibility for taking action to resolve the issue.
The Gorey councillor was informed that the Housing and Environment SPC was the relevant body to deal with his queries.
Cllr Breen subsequently impressed upon his chamber colleagues that he felt it was imperative that the situation whereby one dog warden for the county has the responsibility for over 20,000 dogs be reviewed with immediate effect.
Fine Gael councillor Oliver Walsh supported the claims made by Cllr Breen. Cllr Walsh added that there was a clear need to employ a second dog warden to meet current need.
Speaking in response to a recent emergency held by the Irish Farmer’s Association, he cited that the figure of 10,000 dogs for the number of unlicensed animals in the county.
“Could the director look into the possibility of employing another dog warden?” said Cllr Walsh.