Kildare County Council warns that certain dogs must be muzzled and kept on a leash in public

Kildare County Council (KCC) has outlined the services provided by the Dog Warden to those residing within the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District (MD).

The matter was brought to KCC's attention at the latest MD meeting, which was held on Friday, March 1 last.

Social Democrats councillor Aidan Farrelly asked KCC to outline the services in relation to those living in the MD.

In response, KCC issued the following report at the meeting: "The Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) provides a dog warden service (employing two wardens) on behalf of KCC, and its personnel work closely with other agencies including An Garda Siochana.

"The council operates and maintains a pound for dogs seized, accepted or detained under any of the provisions of the Act (Control of Dogs Act, 1986).

"This facility, and the dog warden service, are based at Portersize Ballitore and can be contacted at (059) 8623388; this is the contact number for the county and not for specific MDs.

"Incidents can be reported directly to the warden at this number."

KCC continued: "If there are public places of particular concern to the councillor, the warden can be requested to carry out a regular patrol of these areas.

"The warden’s role and responsibilities include: dealing with queries and complaints from the public, court cases etc.; investigating complaints from the public and An Garda Síochána in relation to dogs; working in close co-operation with An Garda Síochána in relation to matters pertaining to control of dogs; and co-ordinating activities in relation to the control of stray animals and the operation of the pound."

The information was requested by Social Democrats Cllr Aidan Farrelly (File photograph).

KCC also pointed to the primary legislation in this area, the Control of Dogs Act, 1986: "The Department of Rural and Community Development has policy and legislative responsibility for the area of Dog Control in Ireland.

"Certain aspects of this legislation have been in place for a significant number of years, and views have been put forward that changes are required.

"Under the Act, a dog warden may take all reasonable steps to seize and detain any dog that appears to him to be a stray dog and he may enter any premises (other than a residence) for such purposes.

"A member of An Garda Síochána similarly may also seize and detain any dog that appears to him to be a stray dog.

"A dog warden has powers: where he / she has reasonable grounds for believing that a person is committing an offence to request the person’s name and address; to seize and detain any dog in order to ascertain whether an offence is being or has been committed and may enter any premises (other than a residence) for such purposes; to enter any premises (other than a residence) for the purpose of preventing or ending an attack by a dog on any person, or the worrying of livestock; and to request any person who owns, is in charge of, or is in possession of a dog to produce a dog licence within ten days of the date of the request.

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"All dogs must be kept under effectual control when in any public place i.e. street, road, park etc.

"Certain breeds must always be leashed, muzzled and accompanied by a person over the age of 16 years when in a public place."

In addition, KCC said: "The owner of a dog is liable for damages caused in an attack on any person by the dog and for injury done by it to any livestock.

"With regard to dangerous dogs, where a complaint is made to the District Court by any interested person that a dog is dangerous and not kept under proper control, the Court, in addition to any other penalty which it may impose, may order that the dog be kept under proper control or destroyed."

KCC concluded its report by saying: "As a result of a review carried out by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, the Department considers that there is a need to further promote a culture of responsible dog ownership in Ireland and is considering supporting information campaigns regarding responsible dog ownership and progressing measures involving primary and secondary legislation."

Cllr Farrelly told members of KCC present at the meeting that he accepted their report.