Dog ownership

Once you have a dog you're responsible for providing it with the shelter, food, water, and any veterinary care it might need. You must always have proper control of the dog, and you are required to microchip the dog and provide it with an identification tag with your contact details. You must have a dog licence for every dog you own. 

 Local authorities enforce these rules under the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and 1992. Some of the ways they do this include:

• Appointing dog wardens
• Running dog shelters
• Imposing on the spot fines for things like dog fouling
• Taking court proceedings against dog owners, if necessary

How do I get a dog licence?

Dogs over four months old need to have a dog licence. You can order your dog licence at the post office or online at licences.ie. The licence will then be sent to you by your local authority.

 Three types of dog licence are available:

• A lifetime dog licence. This licence costs €140 and it's valid for the lifetime of the dog.
• An annual dog licence. This licence costs €20 and it's valid for 12 months. After 12 months if you still have the dog you will need to either renew the licence for another 12 months or switch to a lifetime licence.
• A general dog licence. This licence covers multiple dogs in a single location, such as a dog kennels. It's valid for 12 months and costs €400. You need to apply directly to your local authority for this type of licence as it's not available through the post office or online.

Dog wardens

The dog warden is responsible for enforcing the laws on dog ownership and for looking after stray and unwanted dogs by bringing them to a shelter or, if possible, reuniting them with their owners.

Dog wardens can issue fines to owners if they are not complying with the rules and regulations of owning a dog. These rules include:

• You must have a dog licence for every dog you own over four months of age, and you must present this licence to the dog warden when asked
• You must clean up after your dog – it is an offence not to clean up when your dog fouls in a public place
• You must always have your dog under control
• Your dog must be microchipped and registered to you
• Your dog must always wear a collar and ID tag with your contact details
• If you own a restricted breed, you must follow the rules including keeping the dog under control at all times, walking the dog on a short leash and keeping the dog muzzled in public places.

Restricted breeds

The following breeds of dog are considered ‘restricted breeds’:

• American Pit Bull Terrier
• English Bull Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Bull Mastiff
• Dobermann Pinscher
• Rottweiler
• German Shepherd (Alsatian)
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Japanese Akita
• Japanese Tosa
• Bandog

If you own a restricted breed, you must follow the rules including keeping the dog under control at all times, walking the dog on a short leash and keeping the dog muzzled in public places.

Fines and penalties

There are penalties for not complying with dog ownership laws. These include on-the-spot fines of between €150 and €300 depending on the offence. If you don't pay the on-the-spot fine you can be prosecuted in the District Court and receive a fine of up to €2,500 or up to 3 months in prison or both.

Local authority dog shelters

Stray and unwanted dogs can be taken to local authority dog shelters where they will try to reunite the dog with the owner or rehome the dog if the owner cannot be found or the dog was surrendered. 

 A dog is considered a ‘stray dog’ if it is alone in public without being accompanied by the owner or another responsible person. Stray dogs can be seized by the dog warden or the Gardaí and held at a dog shelter. The dog can be rehomed if the owner does not claim them after five days.

Adopting a dog from a shelter

If you’re interested in rescuing a dog, shelters are full of dogs looking for their new homes. Many shelters share pictures and information of dogs available for rehoming on their social media pages, or you can arrange to visit the shelter to meet the dogs waiting to be adopted. 

 Once you’ve found a dog you would like to take home, you will need to sign an adoption agreement with the shelter and pay a small fee. This fee will usually include a dog licence and a microchip. It’s important to make sure the microchip is registered to you at your address. You can ask a vet to check the microchip for you to make sure the details are correct. 

 Adopting a dog is a big responsibility, and it’s important to make sure you are a responsible dog owner. Make sure you have control of your dog at all times, and always pick up after your dog when they go to the toilet in a public place. Make sure the dog is always wearing a collar and ID tag with your contact details.

My dog has gone missing. What do I do?

If your dog has gone missing, you should first check with neighbours and businesses in your local area to see if they know where your dog is. If this is unsuccessful, contact the dog warden, the local authority dog shelter, and any rescues in the area and your local vet letting them know where the dog was last seen. Provide as much information as possible, including the breed, colour, size, gender, and age of the dog along with details of their collar and tag and their microchip number. A recent photograph of the dog is also helpful.

 If your dog is found by the dog warden or a member of the public and brought to a local authority shelter, you have five days to reclaim the dog before the shelter can legally rehome them. You will need to provide proof of ownership and pay fees for the nights your dog spent at the shelter before they will be released.

Dog breeding

If there are six or more female dogs over six months of age and capable of breeding at a premises, the owner is required to apply to the local authority to be added to the Dog Breeding Establishments Register. The local authority can inspect the premises.

If the application is successful, the owner will be given a certificate outlining details of the registration including how many female dogs over the age of six months can be held at the premises, and any other conditions attached to the registration.