Under the Control of Dogs Act 1986 (as Amended), if you own a dog you by law must hold a Dog Licence for it.
In order to obtain a dog licence, you must be over 16 years of age. It is an offence for you to keep a dog over 4 months old unless you have a licence.
If your dog dies or if you rehome your dog to a new owner you must let your Local Authority Animal Control section know so they can cancel the licence for you. For dog owners in Co. Offaly email environment@offalycoco.ie giving details of name and address of owner as per the dog licence and the licence number. If the dog is being rehomed then you should let us know if the dog has been rehomed in Offaly or another location.
Your dog must be accompanied by and be under your effective control or the control of another responsible person 16 years of age or older, if it is outside your home or premises or the home or premises of the person in charge of it. You can be requested by a dog warden to produce evidence of your dog licence and failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine.
Under the Control of Dogs Act 1998(as Amended) a Dog Warden has the power to request proof of a dog being licenced. Failure to do so is an offence under Section 27(1)(c) carrying a fine of €150.00. Failure to pay this fine within a specified period can result in prosecution by your local authority.
Your dog must also wear a collar or harness with your contact details attached to it. 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 or altering, defacing, mutilating, or rendering illegible the particulars on a collar, or 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 all incur a €200 fine under Section 27(1)(f) of the Act.
An Annual Dog Licences(€20) and Lifetime Dog Licences (€140) can be purchased from your local Post Office or online here .
A General Dog Licence which allows you to keep an unspecified number of dogs on your premises can be purchased from your Local Authority (€400) and is valid for one year.
Licences are not required for dogs in the possession of the County Council, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Gardai, Blind persons’ guide-dogs, and any dog imported into the State for less than 30 days.
The revenue from dog licences finances the operation of dog control services in local areas throughout the country.
Summary of Dog Licence related Fines
Keeping a Dog without a Licence €150 Control of Dogs Act 1986 Section 27(1)(a)
Taking possession of a dog without having a General Dog Licence in relation to a Change of Ownership before the issue of a licence for that dog €150 Control of Dogs Act 1986 Section 27(1)(a)
Transferring possession of a dog to somebody who does not have a licence for that dog or hold a General Dog Licence in relation to a Change of Ownership. €150 Control of Dogs Act 1986 Section 27(1)(a)
Failure to produce a Dog Licence within 10 days when requested by a Dog Warden €150 Control of Dogs Act 1986 Section 27(1)(c)
Failure to have a collar or harness on your dog with a disc or plate with your name and contact details on it. €200 Control of Dogs Act 1986 Section 27(1)(f)
Defacing or rendering illegible the ownership details of the dog. €200 Control of Dogs Act 1986 Section 27(1)(f)
Knowingly attaching a collar to a dog with an illegible or defaced disc or plate with the owners details on it €200 Control of Dogs Act 1986 Section 27(1)(f)
Multiple offences can be registered on a Dog Fine for each dog, with amounts being cumulative.