COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 09, 2024
QUESTION NO. 6
QUESTION: Councillor C Ahern
To ask the CEO how many fines have been issued in respect of dog fouling and/or other safety or enforcement issues by dog wardens in the last 12 months?
REPLY:
The following is a breakdown of fines issued by the Council's Dog Wardens in 2023 and to date in 2024:
| Act/Regulation | Section/Article | Description | 2023 | 2024 to date |
| Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992 | Section 2 | keeping a dog without a licence | 4 | 0 |
| Section 9 | failing to keep a dog under effectual control | 5 | 9 | |
| Control of dogs Regulations, 1998 | Article 5 | allowing a dog that is required to be muzzled in a public place to be unmuzzled in a public place | 0 | 1 |
Under Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, where faeces has been deposited by a dog in any place to which the section applies, the person in charge of the dog shall immediately remove the faeces and shall ensure that it is properly disposed of in a suitable sanitary manner.
Three fines were issued in 2023, and one fine has been issued to date in 2024.
The difficulty with enforcement of Section 22 is the requirement for witness testimony, to report that the offence happened and that an identified person is the person in charge of the dog. In the absence of such testimony, fines cannot be issued. The Council continues to encourage residence groups and/or individuals to assist the Litter Warden Service in this regard.
The Dog Warden Service encourages responsible dog ownership and continually promotes the benefits of microchipping dogs and how this will assist in reuniting dog owners with their dogs if lost or worse stolen. Up to the end of July 2024, 261 stray and surrendered dogs were dealt with by the warden service, happily 78 dogs have been reunited with their owners and a further 169 have been rehomed to date.
As part of their enforcement role under the Control of Dogs Act, the Dog Wardens will:
- Respond to complaints relating to dogs not under effectual control and/or dangerous dogs, including incidents of sheep worrying.
- Carry out licence checks and initiate enforcement proceedings if necessary
- Collect unwanted and stray dogs
Since the introduction of the Control of Dogs Act and subsequent programmes of awareness and enforcement the number of unwanted and stray dogs collected by the Wardens in South Dublin has reduced by around 90%. During the same period, the number of sheep worrying incidents reduced by a similar amount.
The Dog Wardens also deal with complaints related to dogs daily e.g. Barking dogs, Stray dogs, Surrendered dogs, Nuisance dogs. The wardens patrol all areas of the County including parks and open spaces.
The Wardens liaise with other Council sections and departments in carrying out their work, including the Park Ranger Service in respect of the control of dogs in council parks and open spaces and will advise and assist estate management in the Councils Housing Department.
The Dog Warden Service regularly co-ordinates with the DSPCA Inspectors on matters relating to dogs. On occasion, the expertise of the Council's Dog Warden Service will be called upon by An Garda Síochána, to assist in search or arrest operations, where there are dogs on the premises.