New dog control measures to see fines doubled, number of restricted breeds increased

The Government will announce a series of new measures on Thursday to improve the control of dogs in response to a spate of serious attacks on people in the past year.

Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys will announce new steps to tighten up on the laws to control dogs, including a doubling of on-the-spot fines for serious offences.

Ms Humphreys will sign regulations that will allow for on-the-spot fines of up to €300 for breaches under the Control of Dogs Act. They include a dog owner not keeping their dog under effective control, or a dog not wearing a muzzle where appropriate.

Dog wardens will also be able to issue multiple fines at one time. A restricted dog not wearing a muzzle or collar, and who does not have a dog licence may attract three separate fines.

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In late October, two women received medical treatment following a serious dog attack in Waterford city. Both were attacked by a breed of dog known as the XL Bully pit bull. The dog was subsequently seized by the council warden.

Department of Community Development figures suggest that as many as 300 dog attacks occur in Ireland each year. The most serious in recent years was the attack on a young boy, Alejandro Mizsan in Co Wexford in late 2022, which left him with extensive facial injuries.

Separately, Ms Humphreys will also announce a €2 million fund that will be used to upgrade dog shelters and vehicles.

Dog shelter staff have reported coming under significant pressure in terms of dealing with stray dogs. In a recent Seanad debate, Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan said there were over 3,200 dogs without homes in Ireland at present.

The Minister is also expected to appoint a chair within weeks of a new stakeholder group that will examine wider issues around dog ownership. One of its tasks ill be to expand the list of restricted breeds in Ireland.

Ms Boylan is one of several parliamentarians who has called for the recruitment of more dog wards. In 2021 there were 50 full-time dog wardens and 21 part-time dog wardens in the State.

Dog wards issued 1,654 on-the-spot fines were issued in 2018; 1,749 in 2019; 1,069 in 2020; and 924 in 2021. In addition, 176 prosecutions were taken by local authorities under the Control of Dogs Act in 2018; 182 in 2019; 82 in 2020; and 97 in 2021. The fall in the number of prosecutions has been attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latest figures from the department suggest that some 198,000 people in the State have valid dog licence.