Dog Control

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Problems associated with dog control, including losses of livestock caused by marauding dogs, led to the passing of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986. The Act gave local authorities responsibility for operating dog control and licensing services with the power to appoint dog wardens, to provide shelters for stray and unwanted dogs, to seize dogs and to impose on-the-spot fines.  Galway County Council is committed to managing a Dog Warden Service which guarantees the compassionate treatment of stray and unwanted dogs and enhances their prospect of finding a safe and caring home.  

Dogs must be kept under control at all times under the Control of Dogs Act 1986.

Uncontrolled dog = On-the-spot fine!  €300!!   

Dog licences

If you have a dog over 4 months old, you must have a licence for it and the person to whom the licence is issued must be over 16 years of age. 

A dog licence can be purchased at any post office or online at www.licences.ie 

• Annual Dog Licence Application - valid for one year - €20.00  
• Lifetime Licence Application - valid for the lifetime of your dog - (€140.00)
• A General Licence (€400.00) can be purchased from your local authority.  This entitles a person to keep an unspecified number of dogs at a premise - Valid for one year.  Please note that you may not keep 6 or more females capable of breeding unless registered as a Dog Breeding Establishment.  

Unlicenced dog = On-the-spot fine!  €150!!   

 

Microchipping of Dogs

Since the 31st March 2016, it has been a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped in Ireland and that the microchip is registered with your up to date contact details on an approved government database.

In Ireland, there are four approved databases:

• Fido
• Animark
• Irish Kennel Club
• The Irish Coursing Club (Micro ID) 

A microchip provides secure, reliable and permanent identification, which greatly increases the likelihood that your pet, if lost, will be returned home to you.  

Dog Breeding Establishments 

All premises with 6 or more female dogs (aged 4 months or more) must register with the Local Authority under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010

Dog Breeding Establishments Guidelines

Dog Breeders Establishment Register January 2024

P‌‌‌lease click here to access the Closure notice issued on 15th November 2023 

The Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and Local Authorities have compiled this guide to responsible dog ownership in Ireland.  

Responsible Dog Ownership DECD DAFM

Does your dog have a collar?

All dogs must wear a collar with I.D (a disc or name tag with the name/address of the owner). 

Dog without collar = On-the-spot fine!  €200!!   

Dogs which require special care        

Under the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 the following breeds of dog require extra control when in public places.

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

These dogs (or strains and crosses of them) must be: 

• Kept on a short strong lead by a person over 16 years who can control them 
• Muzzled whenever in a public place 
• Always wear a collar bearing the name and address of their owner 

 

From October 1st 2024, new regulations prohibit the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of XL Bully type dogs.

From February 1st 2025, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully type dog without a ‘Certificate of Exemption’ issued by the local authority in which the dog resides.

XL Bully owners have between October 1st 2024 and (before) February 1st 2025 to apply for a Certificate of Exemption from Galway County Council.

This certificate will be unique to each XL Bully type dog and owner. It will specify the dog’s licence details, microchip details, neutering details, age and description. It will also specify the dog owner’s name, address, date of birth and contact number.

A Certificate of Exemption is issued by the Local Authority and authorises the owner of an XL Bully type dog to keep that dog at a particular premises until the natural end of the dog’s life.

After February 1st 2025 all XL Bully type dog owners should either be in possession of a Certificate of Exemption or have proof that they applied for a Certificate of Exemption.

Owners must apply to their local authority after October 1st 2024.

Galway County Council will process the application and send either:

• A Certificate of Exemption,
• A Letter of Refusal,
• Request for further information should the application be missing any relevant information.

No fee will be charged for a Certificate of Exemption

GCC Application Form for XL Bully Certificate of Exemption 

Completed Forms can be sent by email to dogwardens@galwaycoco.ie or to

Galway County Council, Dog Warden Services, Áras an Chontae, Prospect Hill, Galway, H91  H6KX

The following documentation should be included with the application;

1. Copy of valid dog licence;

2. Copy of microchipping certificate for the dog;

3. Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering Status Form (see below);

4. Photographic proof of identity (copy of passport, drivers licence, public services card etc.); and

5. Proof of Address (copy of utility bill or bank statement within previous 3 months etc.).

Owners must arrange to have their XL Bully type dog neutered by a registered Veterinary Practitioner in order to receive a Certificate of Exemption. Neutering of the XL Bully type dog must be carried out through castration if it’s male or spaying if it’s female.

Once the dog has been neutered, owners must complete a  GCC Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering Status of XL Bully Form.

This form must be countersigned by a vet and forwarded to the Galway County Council by post or email.

A Certificate of Exemption will not be granted until the Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering Status Form has been received by Galway County Council

Owners will be able to submit a Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering Status Form where their dog is determined by a vet to be medically unfit for neutering.

It is a legal requirement in Ireland to have all dogs implanted with a microchip and registered on an approved database by the time they are 12 weeks old.

For more information on micro-chipping and registration of your dog, please consult this gov.ie page on a dog owner's legal responsibilities.

If you're unsure if your dog is microchipped, ask your vet to scan your dog for a Microchip.

If an application for a Certificate of Exemption is refused for any reason, the owner will be notified in writing by their local authority. Such owners may re-apply, addressing the reasons for refusal.

If further applications are refused, and a certificate of exemption is not in place before February 1st 2025, owners may be required to surrender their dog to the Local Authority Dog Warden.

The seizure and detention of any dogs may involve both the Dog Warden and An Garda Síochána.

The XL Bully type dog is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type. The XL Bully type dog is typically larger (both in terms of height and body shape) and more muscular than other American Bully breed types such as the ‘Micro’, ‘Pocket’, ‘Standard’ and ‘Classic’.

Owners should use the  XL Bully Type Physical Conformation Standard – see link to determine if their dog is an XL Bully type.

It is the owner’s responsibility to determine if their dog is covered by the ban.

If owners think their dog could be an XL Bully type dog, they should comply with all new requirements.

More information on the definition of an XL Bully type dog is in the Technical Frequently Asked Questions document below.

Any owner found to be in breach of the regulations will have committed an offence under the Control of Dogs Act 1986.

The dog may be seized and euthanized in a humane manner and the owner will be subject to the penalties outlined in that Act:

A fine of up to €2,500, or imprisonment of a term of up to 3 months, or both.

FAQ’S have been developed by the Department of Rural and Community Development and are available here.

XL Bully Type Physical Conformation Standard

GCC XL Bully Certificate of Exemption Guidelines‌‌

GCC Application Form for XL Bully Certificate of Exemption

GCC Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering Status of XL Bully Form

 

Dog fouling 

Dog fouling is a health hazard and spoils walkways and amenities for everybody. Dog faeces carry various infections including toxocariasis. This is caused by roundworms in the dog's intestine. Children are most vulnerable to the serious effects of this infection which can result in eye disorders, dizziness, nausea, asthma and epileptic fits.

If a dog fouls the person in charge must clean up and dispose of the faeces properly. Failure to do so can result in an ‘on-the-spot’ of €150 under the Litter Pollution Act 1997-2003 or a court appearance which can lead to a prosecution with a much larger penalty. 

Always pick up after your dog using a dog waste bag or scooping device before disposing of it in the nearest litter bin.  

Stray dog

A “stray dog” is a dog which is in a public place and not accompanied by the owner or other responsible person. Stray dogs may be seized by authorised person and kept for 5 days by an auhoirsed officer during which time they may be reclaimed by their owners or rehomed if they are suitable for rehoming.

When you find a stray dog you can…………..

• Return the dog to its owner if you can get the owners details easily and safely from the dog’s collar.
• If you are unable to find the owner you can contact your local Dog Warden.  The dog may have been reported as missing to the warden. 
• You may also decide to keep the dog yourself. In this case you must send written notification to the Dog Warden or the local Garda. If the dog’s owner does not claim the dog within a year you may become the owner of the dog.
• It is unlawful to hand a stray dog over to any person or agency except the dog’s owner, Dog Warden or the Garda.

Unwanted Dog

If you can no longer care for your dog it can be surrendered to your local dog warden.  The owner must produce a valid licence and a surrender fee of €50.00 per dog will apply.  It is Galway County Council's policy to ensure every attempt is made to rehome all stray or wanted dogs that come into our care.  

Lost your dog?

If a dog is missing/stolen, it is important that you act quickly:

• Immediately report to the Gardaí, Galway County Council's dog warden service and your vet.
• Spread the word on social media - post clear photos and detailed descriptions of the dog and encourage people to share the post. 
• It should also be posted on missing animal websites and selling pages should be monitored to see if there are dogs for sale matching your dog's description. 

 

Attacks on livestock

Reports of attacks on livestock have increased in recent years. It is the responsibility of the dogs owners under the Control of Dogs Act, to ensure that their dogs are under effective control at all times.  Attacks on livestock can result in economic losses to the farmer, for which the dog owner can be held liable under the Control of Dogs Act. 

Farmers who are effected are asked to report all attacks to Galway County Council's dog warden service as well as An Garda Siochána.  The irish Farmers Accociation have issued a protocol outlining the actions farmers should take if they encounter a dog attack on their sheep.  This can be accessed at the link below: 

https://bit.ly/3sWikw6

Barking

Excessive barking which causes a nuisance to any person is an offence. If you are bothered by persistent barking you could first contact the owner and make them aware of the nuisance caused by their dog. If this is unsuccessful a complaint should be made to the District Court on the appropriate form available from Galway County Council. 

Barking Dog Complaint Form

Contact Point

Contact Person:  

Dog Warden