The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) are pointing to the imminent formation of a new government as the ideal opportunity to address ongoing weaknesses with regard to dog control.
Speaking on this, national vice-president John Joe Fitzgerald detailed “how the 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 Protection, while microchipping is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture. Meanwhile the County Councils that employ the dog wardens are under the control of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The current system has Fitzgerald stated “led to a complete abdication of responsibilities by the powers that be, resulting 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 Fitzgerald maintained “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.”
By having everything under one Department there is, he added “an opportunity to cross reference what dogs are licensed and what dogs are microchipped, while also ensuring 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 are also calling for a national media campaign around dog control. Such a campaign should, Fitzgerald stated “increase awareness of the direct consequence for dog owners in not complying with the law and their obligations.
The INHFA spokesperson also referenced figures from 2023 on reported dog attacks, which saw 730 animals attacked with over 420 killed or maimed. This he stated “is reported attacks, but the fear is that the actual figures could be multiples of this.”
In conclusion Fitzgerald appealed to dog owners “to do the right thing and ensure their dog is controlled at all times.”