165 dogs entered Mayo pound last year

FIFTY-NINE on the spot fines were issued to dog owners in Mayo last year.

However, less than half were paid – just 24 people coughed up the money.

The stats are revealed in the just published 2018 dog control statistics in relation to the dog control functions of local authorities. These include details on the number of dog licences issued, the management of dog pounds and dog breeding establishments.

In Mayo last year, 11 prosecutions were taken under the Control of Dogs Act, resulting in five convictions.

Just over 6,600 dog licences were issued by Mayo County Council last year.

The number of dogs entering the pound in Mayo in 2018 was 165. Of those, 122 were strays while 43 were surrendered.

Twenty-six of the dogs that ended up in the pound were reclaimed/re-homed, with 131 transferred to animal welfare groups. Seven animals were euthanised.

Four of the dogs in the pound were greyhounds (bearing ear ID tattoos) and they were all transferred on to welfare groups.

Ten applications for the renewal of dog breeding establishments certification were made to the council last year, with 10 premises inspected during the course of the year. One improvement notice was issued.

Seán Canney, Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, who announced the publication of the 2018 dog control statistics, was pleased to note that the number of dogs entering local authority pounds is decreasing year-on-year, down from a high of over 26,000 in 2002 to 9,961 nationally in 2018.

The total number of dogs that were euthanised in local authority pounds in 2018 was 778, down from a high of over 21,000 in 2002, 996 in 2017 and 1,674 in 2016.

The minister pointed out that the majority of dogs that enter pounds are reunited with their owners, rehomed or transferred to animal welfare groups.

Finally, the minister reminded the public that a public consultation on dog control in Ireland is currently open. The consultation closes on September 6 and he urged all interested parties to make a submission before that date.