‘Unrestricted’ restricted dogs on the increase
The incidences of restricted dogs not being correctly restrained in public was brought to the fore at a council meeting earlier this week by Cllr Kay Dawson, who said that she was getting an increased volume of calls from people in Fermoy and Mitchelstown reporting dangerous dogs, both unmuzzled and off the leash.
She sought figures from the Environment Department on rates of prosecutions for owners not managing a restricted dog breed in public, the breakdown of which was unavailable in the meeting.
In Fermoy, there were 61 fines issued to dog owners during 2020. Of these, 21 led to prosecution. However, the figures did not detail for what offence the fine was issued or the prosecution awarded.
Restricted dog breeds in Ireland are required to wear a muzzle in public, be on a leash no more than one metre in length at all times, and under the control of someone over the age of 16. The 10 restricted breeds are Staffordshire, English and American Bull Terriers, Bullmastiffs, Dobermanns and Alsatians. Other restricted breeds are the Akita, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler and the Japanese Tosa.
Cllr Dawson said she was getting calls more frequently than ever before, generally from walkers who had encountered the dogs out in public.
“Where once I’d get a call once in a blue moon, now I’m getting them a lot more. I want to know, are there any consequences for this? Are they just getting a slap on the writst, how far do we take it?”
Earlier this month, an Akita was seized in Cashel by council officials and Gardaí after reports of numerous attacks on other dogs. The animal was re-homed.