Greyhounds Fined €600 for Killing Xisqueta Ewe in Andorra's Ordino Parish

Rangers in Ordino parish have fined the owner of two greyhounds €600 after the animals killed a purebred Xisqueta ewe on shepherd Sergi Riba's private pasture in Segudet's Ca l'Arrero area last Thursday afternoon. Each dog drew a €300 penalty for being unleashed, and both are now deemed potentially dangerous, mandating muzzles and short leashes at all times, with higher fines for future violations.

The incident marked the second attack by these greyhounds on Riba's flock in under a month—and the seventh sheep lost to loose dogs over three years. Witnesses saw the dogs target the ewe's jugular during routine grazing outside the enclosure. Riba, nearby in his vegetable garden, confirmed the owner was caught on-site, admitted fault, expressed remorse, and pledged to cover costs for this and the prior incident, despite earlier denials about the previous ewe, which she claimed was already dead.

Riba, an engineer managing around 60 sheep altruistically with his partner to revive a 300-year family tradition halted for decades, had warned the recent resident owner for over two weeks, especially near livestock and warning signs. Rangers and police arrived within about 20 minutes, verified details via witnesses, and opened a formal report under regulations for dogs attacking passive animals like livestock, despite the owner briefly leaving the scene.

Authorities from the Environment Ministry and Ordino commune acted swiftly, boosting patrols and leashing enforcement in the area. The Agriculture Department is accelerating updates to animal ownership laws, raising fines for livestock attacks while emphasizing pet welfare and coexistence among people, pets, herders, and livestock.

Riba praised the rapid response but highlighted broader issues from irresponsible pet ownership amid demographic growth. "The current lifestyle and demographic growth make normal coexistence with herding impossible," he said. "We're fed up. This is unsustainable." He has since decided against filing a criminal complaint, citing sufficient public scrutiny and the owner's commitment to compensation, opting instead to focus on heightened awareness and stricter controls in livestock zones. Rangers are reinforcing checks in mountain areas with grazing animals, reminding owners to leash dogs even off-trail on private agricultural land.