The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has said that the formation of a new government provides an opportunity to address “ongoing weaknesses” in relation to dog control.
National vice-president of the association, John Joe Fitzgerald has said that there is an “inability to deliver the necessary change is a result of a very scattered approach in relation to dog control”.
Currently the licensing of dogs comes under the control of the Department of Rural and Community Development, while microchipping is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The local authority that employ dog wardens are then under the control of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
INHFA
Fitzgerald said that the current system has “led to a complete abdication of responsibilities by the powers that be”.
He said that this has resulted in “no control on dogs and no penalties for irresponsible dog owners”.
“With the formation of a new government we will see movement of responsibility inside and between government departments.
“This provides the best possible opportunity to bring all issues relating to control and welfare of dogs under one department, that should ideally be the department of agriculture,” he said.
The INHFA vice-president said that having dog control under one department would provide “an opportunity to cross reference what dogs are licensed and what dogs are microchipped”.
Fitzgerald said that such a move would also ensure the “resources are there to follow dog owners that have done neither and obviously dog owners that have failed to exercise proper dog control”.
Beyond the proposal to amalgamate the control of dogs under one department, the INHFA is also calling for a national media campaign around dog control.
“Such a campaign should increase awareness of the direct consequence for dog owners in not complying with the law and their obligations,” Fitzgerald said.
Data from 2023 on reported dog attacks showed 730 animals were attacked with over 420 killed or maimed.
“This is reported attacks, but the fear is that the actual figures could be multiples of this,” Fitzgerald said.
The INHFA vice-president has appealed to dog owners “to do the right thing and ensure their dog is controlled at all times”.