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Some 778 dogs were euthanised last year, recently published statistics show – down from a high of 21,000 in 2002.
“These statistics also include details on the number of dogs entering local authority pounds, which I am pleased to note is decreasing year-on-year, down from a high of over 26,000 in 2002 to 9,961 in 2018. These statistics also include details on the number of dogs rehomed, transferred to welfare groups and euthanised,” Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development Seán Canney said.
Last year 9,848 dogs entered Irish pounds, of which just 222 were seized. of that total, 1,907 were reclaimed, 2,426 rehomed and 4,697 transferred to dog welfare groups.
When it comes to the enforcement of animal welfare laws, just over 1,650 on the spot fines were issued last year, but less than a third of these were paid. There were 176 prosecutions resulting in 92 convictions.
There were 208,098 dogs licensed in Ireland last year, approximately one dog for every 22 humans.
It is a legal requirement for all dog owners to have a dog licence and to have their dog micro-chipped. If a stray dog, which is micro-chipped, enters the local authority pound the microchip can be scanned and the dog re-united with its owner.
A public consultation on dog control in Ireland is currently open and closes on Friday 6 September.
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