Written answers
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
Control of Dogs
Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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981. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government whether he is aware that under the Control of Dogs Act 1998 Regulations it is illegal for individuals to use certain breeds, including mixes or any genetic strain of the breeds listed either here or travelling here from abroad, in therapeutic, assistance and disability work in public, given the dogs use their mouths to perform tasks for these individuals, and currently they are not exempt from being muzzled in public; if he is aware that dogs performing these roles typically need a leash distance exceeding two metres in length, which is not legally allowed under current regulations; if Irish embassies are aware of this when advising travellers coming here; and if there are implications with respect to disability law. [20823/15]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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For dogs generally, the owner or any other person in charge of a dog must accompany it and keep it under effectual control in any place other than the premises of the owner, the premises of the person in control of the dog, or other premises with the consent of the owner of the premises.
The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 (as amended) require that 10 specific breeds of dogs, and crosses of these breeds, must be muzzled and led, on a sufficiently strong leash or chain not exceeding 2m in length, by a competent person over 16 years of age when in a public place.
The specific control requirements for the restricted breeds are a balanced and workable arrangement which recognises the rights of dog owners, respects animal welfare to the extent possible, while also taking account of the needs of society to be protected from dogs with a significant capability to inflict very serious injury, or cause death. Several jurisdictions have addressed the matter of restrictions of particular breeds of dogs in a similar way to Ireland, England, Northern Ireland, France and New Zealand all have similar restrictions on specific breeds of dog.
I understand many different breeds of dog are used for therapeutic, assistance and disability work. There is no prohibition on the use of the restricted breeds for such work.
There are a number of exemptions to the requirements in respect of the restricted breeds, including guide dogs for people unable to find their way without guidance and search and rescue dogs and dogs bring trained for such purposes. I am not aware of how any definition for dogs used for therapeutic, assistance and disability work may be distinguished in such a manner to limit any exemption to dogs being used bone fide for such purposes and not be extended to a wider category of companion dog or pet.
It is a matter for the embassies to familiarise themselves with the requirements in relation to restricted breeds. My Department is available to provide details of the requirements to any embassy on request.
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