A warning has been issued to dog owners to make sure they know where their dogs are at all times.
It comes as incidents of sheep worrying increase at this time of year, with the lambing season just coming to an end.
"Out the country we would receive a number of complaints in relation to people walking dogs on people's land," Portlaw Garda Mark Gavin told this week's Waterford Garda Watch.
"We would encourage dog owners in particular to obey notices when walking their dogs, keep dogs on leads at all times.
"Dogs can cause anxiety to animals which may lead to miscarriages and stillbirths."
Garda Gavin says it's important that farmers and other land-owners are also aware that they can report any incidents of sheep worrying or incidents like that to them.
"We would ask people to report any wandering dogs," he continued, "and know where your dog is at all times.
"Have your dog registered and microchipped.
"It is the duty of the owner to control dogs at all times. People also need to be cautious when they are on people's land to be mindful that livestock can be quite dangerous as well.
"If you are not permitted to be on lands, don't enter."
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