Information
Under the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, all local authorities are responsible for the control of dogs. Local authorities have the power to appoint dog wardens, provide dog shelters, seize dogs, impose on-the-spot fines and take court proceedings against owners. You are liable for injury or damage caused by your dog to people or livestock. You can be disqualified from keeping a dog if you have been convicted of cruelty to a dog under the Prevention of Cruelty Acts, 1911 and 1965.
Discover more in the updated Responsible Dog Ownership Booklet available in English and As Gaeilge
Stray Dogs
Stray dogs are dogs that are in a public place and are not accompanied by the owner or a responsible person. Dogs that are not under proper control are also considered stray dogs. You can receive an on-the-spot fine if your dog is not under proper control. Stray dogs may be seized by the dog warden and the Gardai and brought to the local dog pound. These dogs may be put down or disposed of if their owners do not claim them within 5 days. If you dog has strayed or is missing, you should contact the local dog pound directly to check whether or not your dog has been picked up.
Before you pick up your dog, you will have to pay a re-claim fee and produce a current dog licence. If you do not have a current dog licence, you must obtain one from your local post office before collecting your dog. Local authorities and the Gardai are required to keep a register of dogs seized by them and dogs detained by other people and notified to them. You can inspect this register at the offices of your local authority or in your local Garda station.
Unwanted dogs
Unwanted dogs should be brought to the dog pound. The owner must produce a valid licence. A fee of €25 will be charged. Local authorities have the power to accept unwanted dogs and destroy or dispose of them if they are not rehomed. Surrendering of an unwanted dog is subject to there being space in the dog shelter at the time of surrender.
Dog Wardens
Dog wardens have the power to request the name and address of a person suspected of an offence under the Control of Dogs Act. They also have the power to seize and detain any dog and to enter any premises, other than a residence with 5 or less dogs, to seize and detain a dog. You are guilty of an offence and can be arrested by a Garda if you obstruct a dog warden in the course of his or her work, refuse to give your name and address or give a false name and address.
Guard dogs
A guard dog used at a non-residential business premises must be either accompanied by a handler or secured so that it cannot roam freely around the premises or escape. A notice informing the public that a guard dog is on the premises must be displayed at the entrance. The guard dog must wear a collar displaying the name and address of its owner.
The guard dog must carry an electronic implant containing a permanent identification mark given to the dog by the ISPCA. This implant must be inserted by or under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon authorised by the ISPCA. The dog owner is responsible for the cost involved in inserting the implant. Kennels where more than 5 guard dogs, aged over 4 months are kept must register with the local authority.
Rules relating to Restricted Breeds of dog
The Control of Dogs (Restriction of Certain Dogs) Regulations, 1991 impose additional rules in relation to the following breeds (strains/cross-breeds and type) of dog in Ireland:
- American Pit BullTerrier
- English Bull Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Bull Mastiff
- Dobermann Pinscher
- German Shepherd (Alsatian)
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Rottweiler
- Japanese Akita
- Japanese Tosa
- Bandog
The rules state that:
These dogs (or strains, crosses or types of them) must be kept on a short strong lead by a person over 16 years who is capable of controlling them. These dogs (or strain, crosses or types of them) must be muzzled whenever they are in a public place. These dogs (or strains, crosses or types of them) must wear a collar bearing the name and address of their owner at all times.
The rules on muzzling and leashing do not apply to dogs used by the Gardai, the Dublin Harbour Police, State Airport Police and bona fide rescue teams in rescue operations. The rules on muzzling do not apply to guide dogs for the blind.
FINES
On December 1st 2023 the Fixed Penalty Notice Fines under The Control of Dogs Act 1998 As Amended were increased. The table below gives the list of the Offences, the Relevant Section of the Act and the Amount of the Fine for each offence.
| Nature of Alleged Offence | Relevant Section of Act Fine Amount |
| Keeping a dog without a licence, contrary to section 2 of the Act | Section 27(1)(a) €150.00 |
| Taking possession of a dog pursuant to a change of ownership without having a relevant general dog licence and before the issue of a dog licence in respect of that dog, contrary to section 2 of the Act. | Section 27(1)(a) €150.00 |
| Transferring possession of a dog pursuant to a change of ownership to another person who is not the holder of a dog licence in respect of that dog or of a relevant general dog licence, contrary to section 2 of the Act. | Section 27(1)(a) €150.00 |
| Permitting a dog of which you are the owner or other person in charge to be in a place other than – the premises of the owner, or the premises of such other person in charge of the dog, or the premises of any other person, with the consent of that person, and failing to accompany it and keep it under effectual control, contrary to section 9 of the Act. | Section 27(1)(b) €300.00 |
| Permitting a greyhound, which is not being led by means of a sufficiently strong chain or leash, to be in a public place contrary to section 10 of the Act. | Section 27(1)(b) €250.00 |
| Leading or causing or permitting to be led by any one person, more than four greyhounds at a time in a public place, contrary to section 10 of the Act. | Section 27(1)(b) €250.00 |
| Having found or taken possession of a stray dog, failing to return the dog to its owner, or deliver the dog to a dog warden, or detain the dog and give notice in writing containing a description of the dog, the address of the place where it was found, and the address of the place where it was detained to the member in charge of the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was found, or to a dog warden, contrary to section 13 of the Act. | Section 27(1)(b) €150.00 |
| Failing to deliver to a dog warden a stray dog which you seized where you believed that the dog had worried or was about to worry livestock, contrary to section 13 of the Act. | Section 27(1)(b) €150.00 |
| Failing to produce, within ten days of being requested to do so by a dog warden, a dog licence, or a general dog licence in respect of a dog of which you are the owner or in charge or in possession, contrary to section 16 of the Act. | Section 27(1)(c) €150.00 |
| Failing to ensure that a dog wears a collar bearing the name and address of the owner inscribed thereon or on a plate, badge or disc attached thereto, contrary to article 6 of the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998. | Section 27(1)(f) €200.00 |
| Altering, defacing, mutilating, or rendering illegible the particulars on a collar worn by a dog, or on a plate, badge or disc attached thereto, contrary to article 6 of the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998 | Section 27(1)(f) €200.00 |
| Allowing a dog to wear a collar, or a plate, badge or disc attached thereof, which has been altered, defaced, mutilated, or rendered illegible or upon which the particulars have become illegible, contrary to article 6 of the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998. | Section 27(1)(f) €200.00 |
| Allowing a dog that is required to be leashed in a public place to be unleashed in a public place, contrary to article 5 of the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998 | Alt/Section 27(1)(f) €300.00 |
| Allowing a dog that is required to be led in a public place, by a person over the age of sixteen years who is capable of controlling the dog to be otherwise led in a public place, contrary to article 5 of the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998. | Alt/Section 27(1)(f) €300.00 |
| Allowing a dog that is required to be muzzled in a public place to be unmuzzled in a public place, contrary to article 5 of the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998. | Alt/Section 27(1)(f) €300.00 |
Dog Control during Lambing Season
Latest figures show 240 incidents of ‘Livestock Worrying’ recorded by local authorities
Dog attacks cause serious injury or even death to sheep and can cause grave distress and financial loss for farm families.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd0b-xUcqJQ
Dog Shelter Fees
Offaly County Council wishes to advise that as of 1st September 2022, the following fees will apply at the Dog Shelter located in Cappincur, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
| Reclaiming fee | €30.00 | Per dog |
| Kennel fee | €20.00 | Per day, per dog |
| Carcass disposal fee | €30.00 | Per dog |
| Adoption fee | €80.00 | Includes a dog licence fee, microchipping and registration fee, 1st vaccination fee |
| Surrender fee | €25.00 | Per dog |
| Collection fee | €25.00 | Per dog |
| Surrender fee litter of pups | €40.00 | Over 12 weeks |
Home quarantine requirements to pet owners from Ukraine
Please see link for information on home quarantine requirements for pet owners from Ukraine
Home quarantine requirements to pet owners from Ukraine.pdf (size 144.3 KB)