Tipperary councillor warns that owners of restricted dog breeds are ignoring the law

A Nenagh councillor has called for action to be taken against people who have restricted dog breeds but who don't abide by the legislation.

Under the Control of Dogs Act, certain breeds must be muzzled and kept on a leash in public.

However, Cllr Joe Hannigan told the January meeting of Nenagh Municipal District Council that restricted breeds were being walked along the riverside walk on the Nenagh River.

“I see it every day, people walking restricted breeds with no muzzle on them,” he said.

He revealed that he had tackled one dog owner and was “basically told to mind my own business”.

Cllr Hannigan said that he feared that someone would be bitten by a dog as the current legislation was being ignored.

He also asked for an awareness campaign for dog owners to be reminded that it was coming into the lambing season, pointing out that there had been a number of sheep kills in Lower Ormond over the past two years.

Environment officer Michael Moroney informed Cllr Hannigan that there were just over 2,000 dog licences issue for the Nenagh district in 2023.

He said that the Council’s dog warden position was now filled fulltime and the level of visits looking for dog licences will be “ramping up”.

Mr Moroney said that if the dog warden comes across restricted breeds that are not compliant under the Control of Dogs Act then action is taken.

However, he pointed out that the Gardaí also have the power to deal with the situation as well.

In relation to the lambing season, Mr Moroney said that this was the time of the year when dog attacks increased and the Council was going to run a campaign around the issue.

Meanwhile, councillors were informed that the Environment and Climate Action Section received 12 complaints in relation to 40 horses in 2023 and there were 18 seizures.