A walk on the pier or over the head at Clogherhead is a popular weekend walk, especially for dog owners, but Louth County Council are this week appealing to all beach users to exercise caution after a dog was attacked in the harbour and sadly had to be put down.

“Visitors to local beaches should be aware that September to December is a particularly important time for grey seals, as it is the breeding season during which time the adults seek safe sites to 'haul out' on land” said a Council spokesperson.

“These are beaches where the animals return year after year to breed, rest, moult and engage in social activity. It is also the time when they give birth to a single pup which is born with distinctive white fur and needs to stay on land for a number of weeks while it is being weaned by its mother” she explained. 

“During the Autumn and early Winter season it is common to see seal pups along Irish coasts, and they can be vulnerable to disturbance by curious humans and their pets. A 'disturbance' can easily occur when seals become aware of human presence even at a distance. 

“Louth County Council are appealing to the public, and especially dog owners out walking with their pets, to maintain a minimum distance of 100m from seals that are on land. Human and other animal proximity to seals and their pups will cause stress and can lead to the abandonment of pups by mothers. 

“Orphaned pups have very little chance of survival and often Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) must intervene by bringing a seal into rehabilitation whereas without human disturbance the pup would have been successfully cared for and weaned in the wild. 

“If any member of the public comes across a seal it is very important to keep a distance, never touch and never attempt to return a young animal to the sea. It is important to remember that seal bites can inflict injury on dogs and humans.

“Louth beaches and port areas are much-valued public amenities, and the public can play a huge role in helping to conserve this protected species. Seals are legally protected under the Wildlife Act and it is illegal and dangerous to approach them or to allow dogs to do so.

For more information and to report sightings, please visit  www.sealrescueireland.org or contact the Seal Rescue Hotline on 087 1955393.