The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan T.D., recently announced the launching by his Department of a national radio advertisement campaign to highlight the need for responsible dog ownership.
While dogs are great companions and the majority of dog owners are very responsible, this advertisement campaign aims to highlight the responsibilities that go with dog ownership.
Dog owners feed, house and care for their pets. At the same time, not everyone loves other people’s dogs. Some people may be afraid of dogs and this has to be remembered when dog owners are out in public with their pets.
The Minister stated: “Irish people have a great tradition of dog ownership and this is a good quality that we have, given the companionship and enjoyment that comes from having a pet, or the practical assistance from a working dog. But it’s worthwhile also highlighting that dog owners need to keep dogs under control at all times. Your dog must be accompanied by and be under your effective control, or the control of a responsible person if it is outside your home or premises. It is important that we hear the message not to let our dogs out unsupervised, especially at night. We can see, for example, that in rural areas dogs can cause a nuisance or sheep worry, which can cause livestock fatalities”.
Under the current law, dogs listed as restricted breeds must be leashed and muzzled when out in public.
It is an offence to keep a dog without a licence, which is available for purchase at local post offices. Dogs must at all times wear a collar that bears the name and the address of the owner inscribed on it or on a plate, badge or disc.
Under Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, it is an offence to allow a dog to foul a public place. This means the owner/person in charge of the dog is required to remove dog faeces and dispose of them in a suitable, sanitary manner.
Excessive dog barking that causes a nuisance is an offence. The District Court can make an order requiring the reduction of excessive barking by a dog, can limit the number of dogs that can be kept on a premise or can direct that a dog be delivered to a dog warden as an unwanted dog.
