National campaign urges dog owners to act responsibly
This photo is used for illustrative purposes only
LAST week, Monday 24 March, South Kildare Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary launched a national awareness campaign to remind dog owners of their responsibilities.
The campaign which originally launched in April 2024 entitled ‘It’s not your dog’s fault, it’s yours’ is aimed at highlighting the responsibility of dog owners and addressing the harm that uncontrolled dogs can do to people and to livestock.
The campaign will run from 24 March 2025 until 20 April 2025.
Minister Heydon said: “I want this campaign to make people think twice about letting their dog loose and uncontrolled.”
“We have to remember that dog owners have serious responsibilities in every setting, but a particular focus is needed in rural areas where we are currently in lambing season.”
“The harm that out-of-control dogs can do to sheep and lambs is financially and emotionally devastating for farm families.”
“There can be zero tolerance for people who do not keep their dogs under proper control.”
This campaign follows closely from a series of related initiatives including increases in on-the-spot fines up to €300 including trebling of fines for serious offences, an additional €2 million to support dog pounds in 2023 and a further €2 million in 2024, the establishment of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group in 2024, the introduction of regulations to ban XL Bully type dogs in 2024, and the recruitment of up to 40 additional dog wardens this year.
