Control of Dogs

Licence Inspections

Dog owners not in possession of a current licence can purchase a licence on the spot.

Dog licences can be purchased in two ways:

1. Customers wanting to renew their dog licence can no longer renew online with Dublin City Council and must renew online via the Dog Licences website.
2. Those who do not wish to use the online payments facility can purchase a licence directly from their local post office. Since 1st January 2012, a regular annual dog licence will cost €20. A lifetime licence costs €140; and for those with larger numbers of dogs, a single, general one-year licence can be purchased for €400.

Dog Pound

Dublin City Council arranges for the provision and operation of a Dog Pound facility for the purposes of its functions under the Control of Dogs Act 1986 , The Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act 1992 and Dublin City Council's Control of Dogs Bye-Laws 1998.

Ashton Pound & Warden Service provides the Dog Warden and Dog Pound facility for the Dublin City Council administrative area. All surrendered/seized dogs are brought to Ashton Pound. Dogs will be kept for five days. After these five days, the dog becomes the property of the dog pound and can be re-homed.

Fees/fines for reclaiming your dog back from the pound

• Pound reclaim fee: €20
• Bed and board: €8 per night
• Licence fee (if unable to produce current licence): €20
• Fine: Failure to produce current licence: €100
• Fine: Failure to keep your dog under effectual control: €100
• Fine: No collar and ID: €100

Other Charges

• Surrender Fee: €40 or €50 if dog is collected by Wardens
• Rehoming Fee: €20
• Microchipping Fee: €25

Contact:

Ashton Pound & Warden Service,
Ashtown,
Castleknock
Dublin 15

Phone: 01 838 3236 / 01 868 3038

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: ashtondogpound

Stray dogs:

If you wish to make a complaint about stray dogs to the Dog Warden Service, please contact Ashton Pound or alternatively call the Control of Dogs Section on 01 222 2165.

The warden service will arrange to carry out patrols in your area, with a view to impounding any dogs found to be straying in breach of Dublin City Council’s Control of Dogs Bye-Laws.

Stray dogs may be seized by the dog wardens and brought to the Aston Pound, where they will be kept for five days. After these five days, the dog becomes the property of the pound and can be re-homed. An owner reclaiming a dog during this five-day period is subject to any relevant fines/charges that must be paid before the dog can be handed back.

Impact of Stray Dogs on Guide Dogs

Stray dogs can have an adverse effect on guide dogs and their owners. Stray dogs or dogs not on a leash can distract a guide or assistance dog, making them nervous or aggressive. This can affect the dogs effectiveness , causing poor concentration and errors that place the dog and the owner at risk. Puppies in training have also developed anxiety which makes them difficult to train.

These situations can be over-whelming for guide dog owners as they can’t see the loose dog or help their guide dog. These issues have sometimes resulted in the withdrawal of the guide dog. Guide dog owners are then often reluctant to reapply for a new guide dog. It costs €38,000 to train a guide dog. We need your help to protect this investment, guide dogs and the people who need their assistance.

To learn more visit Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Nuisance due to Barking Dogs

Section 25 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 deals with the issue of nuisance due to barking dogs. Under Section 25 of this act, a decision as to whether any case of dog barking constitutes a nuisance is an issue for the District Court to adjudicate on.

If you wish to make a complaint about barking dogs can download the Barking Dog Complaint Form. For further advice on properly serving this notice as required under Section 25 of the Control of Dogs Act, contact your local District Court office.

What to do if you have lost your dog

• Contact Ashton Pound – you have only five days to claim your lost dog before they can re-home it.
• Contact your local vet to see if it has been brought in.
• Contact the Dublin SPCA and other welfare groups, as they may have your dog.
• Advertise on the Irish lost and found animal website.
• Check lost and found notice boards in local shops and post offices.
• Contact the local Garda Station leaving your name, phone number and a description of your dog.
• If you find your pet, please remember to contact all the organisations and people you have told about your lost pet so they know your pet has been found; and please take down all posters and signs.

Prevention

Every year, hundreds of dogs are re-homed by the dog pound because their owners cannot be traced. In order to avoid this, owners must:

• Make sure your dog is wearing a collar with a disk at ALL times. It is your legal obligation to have the dog identified in this way and you will be fined for not having one.
• Get the dog microchipped. This can be done in most vets, at the DSPCA or at the DSPCA mobile clinics.
• Register your animal with PetTrace.
• Get the dog neutered, it stops them wandering and wanting to get out of the garden, as well as stopping unwanted breeding and behavioural problems.

Restricted Breeds/Dublin City Council Tenancies

The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 identifies 10 breeds of dog that are subject to stricter regulations than others. These regulations are enforced by the local authorities’ warden service.

The 10 breeds of dog subject to stricter regulations are:

• American pit bull terrier
• English bull terrier
• Staffordshire bull terrier
• Bull mastiff
• Dobermann pinscher
• German shepherd (Alsatian)
• Rhodesian ridgeback
• Rottweiler
• Japanese akita
• Japanese tosa
• Bandog

Additional measures regarding control of dogs have been taken by the Housing and Residential Services Department in the interests of good estate management.

Dublin City Council introduced a ban on the keeping of 10 breeds of dogs by City Council tenants on 1st July 2007. A tenant who had one of these breeds of dog prior to the introduction of the ban may be allowed to keep their dog, provided they ensure that the dog is microchipped and neutered/spayed.