A Galway student is appealing for information after turkeys, ducks and hens worth around €10,000 were stolen from a shed on his family's farm last weekend.
Michael Gilmore from Corrandulla, had around 30 birds taken from the shed.
Michael, who is a student at Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, also runs a pumpkin patch, which people can visit for a small fee.
He is passionate about his farming hobbies, but feels downhearted about starting over for fear the same thing will happen again.
"They are my pride and joy along with the pumpkin patch. I cannot believe anyone would want to take hens out of a shed so near to the house. Who would want to steal them. I never thought they would be in danger.
"When I posted the story on social media I got a great response and a lot of people shared it. Some people said it happened to them on a smaller scale and that the thieves will return when you're back up and running no matter how many locks and cameras you have.
"So I really have to make a decision now about whether I want to continue or not in the New Year"
Anyone with information is asked to contact Tuam Garda Station on 093 70840.
Meanwhile, Galway East TD Sean Canney said that tougher new laws are under way to ensure prison sentences for those convicted of stealing pets.
A new bill proposes the introduction of a mandatory ten month minimum sentence for the theft of pets and certain other offences relating to pets.
"What this bill does, very simply, is it introduces a new section into the Criminal Justice Bill which will provide for mandatory minimum sentence for adults who commit theft concerning pets.
It also defines a pet for the purpose of the section. This is long overdue as we've seen a lot of theft of pets over the last number of years.
It's hugely upsetting for families when an animal disappears and peope are profiting out of this as well. So that's why we need a mandatory sentence to deter people who are even contemplating doing anything like this to any family," he said.
The bill will be debated in the Dáil tomorrow evening.
