COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 09, 2024
QUESTION NO.
QUESTION: Councillor P. Gogarty
To ask the Chief Executive to outline how many fines were issued and court prosecutions secured by the Dog Warden service in South Dublin County for dogs not under effective control since January 2024; and if a statement can be made on the matter?
REPLY:
To date in 2024 nine fines have been issued by the Council's Dog Warden Service for failure to keep a dog under effectual control contrary to Section 9 of the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992.
Five of these fines have been paid in full
Two cases have been referred for prosecution, with Court dates scheduled in September
The remaining two cases will be referred for prosecution if they remain unpaid after the time allowed i.e. 21 days
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.