Animals: The care of and rules within Ireland

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PLEASE NOTE: This page does not cover the “how to” of bringing animals into Ireland, but rather the “what happens after” of it.
1.Dogs
If you are bringing dogs, you will very quickly hear the term “Restricted breed”
From the Dogs.ie website:
“Irish banned dogs. A support question that comes up every now and again is about ‘banned breeds’ and what are they? Technically there aren’t any banned breeds of dogs, rather there is a list of restricted dog breeds. As with most things, the terminology you use is important. There are certain extra rules that owners of dogs that are on the restricted list need to adhere to. Here are some of the basic rules that all dog owners need to take care of.”
This means that you are allowed to bring ANY dog to Ireland. If you want to bring your dog, and you have the means to do so, then there is no dog that you HAVE to leave behind because of their breed. If your dog is on the Restricted Breed list, there are simply additional rules that owners of these breeds have additional rules they need to follow.
What dogs are on the restricted dog breed list?
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- English Bull Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Bull Mastiff
- Dobermann Pinscher
- Rottweiler
- German Shepherd (Alsatian)
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Japanese Akita
- Japanese Tosa
- Ban dog (a so called ban dog is a cross of any of the above breeds mentioned or any strain of the above dogs listed)
What are the rules that owners need to adhere to?
- All these dogs need to be muzzled in public.
- These dogs must be on a short, less than 2 metres, lead. The leash must be ‘sufficiently strong’ or it needs to be a chain.
- Dogs must wear a collar at all times with the owners information on it. This information should include owners name & address.
- These dogs can only be lead by people over the age of 16
Rules on licencing a dog in Ireland
Do remember that whatever type of dog you have, you are still required to get a dog licence for that dog in either of these cases
- once the dog leaves the care of its mother
- once it’s over the age of 4 months.
You can pick up a dog licence at your local post office or local authority. There are three types of dog licences
- Individual dog licence – covers one dog for of 12 months – €20
- General dog licence – for owners of kennels for 12 months – €400
- Lifetime of the dog licence – for the lifetime of the dog for which the licence is issued – €140
Exceptions to dog licences exist
- Guide dogs for the blind do not require a dog licence
- Dogs which are in the country for less than 30 days do not require licensing.
If you are picking up a dog from a charity or shelter they generally ask you to get a licence in advance. It’s also important to note that dog licences can only be held by people over the age of 16.
All dogs need to have a collar that identifies the owner and the owners address. Failure to comply can result in an on-the-spot fine from a dog warden.
Also remember that microchipping on dogs is mandatory for all dogs born after September 2015 and for older dogs after March 31st 2016.
All dogs must be microchipped by a vet and registered on an authorised database by the time they reach the age of 12 weeks. This also applies if they leave the property in which they were born before the age of 12 weeks.
From 1 February 2020, an advertisement for the sale of a dog must carry the dog’s microchip code.
Since 1 February 2020, new rules govern the sale or supply of pets. If you sell or supply five or more pets in a calendar year you must:
- Register with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Maintain records regarding pet animals kept for sale or supply
- Include certain information if you are advertising the sale of an animal, including the microchip number in the case of dogs
- Not sell or supply pets under a certain age (8 weeks in the case of dogs)
You can click HERE to get more information on dog laws regarding noise, fowling etc.
Dog fouling
You must clean up after your dog if it fouls in a public place. Failure to clean up your dog’s waste can lead to a €150 “on-the-spot” fine or on summary conviction to a fine of up to €4,000.
Barking
Excessive dog barking which causes a nuisance to any person is an offence. Your District Court can make an order requiring the reduction of excessive barking by a dog, can limit the number of dogs that can be kept on a premises, or can direct that a dog be delivered to a dog warden as an unwanted dog. You can make a complaint about excessive barking to the District Court under Noise Regulations.
Before you do this, you must first let the dog owner know that you are making a complaint. You do this by completing a Section 108 Form under the Control of Dogs Act, 1986. The Section 108 form is available from the District Court.
2. Other Pets (not cats)
There are no rabies requirements for other species of rodents, rabbits, birds, ornamental fish, intervebrates, amphibians and reptiles imported to Ireland from other EU states as well as Andorra, Switzerland, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and San Marino. However, pet rabbits and rodents imported to Ireland from any other non-EU rabies-controlled country will be quarantined for 4 months.
Birds entering Ireland with their owner or owner’s representative from other countries will need to meet the following requirements:
Application for a Licence to Import Pet Birds, health certificate and Owner’s Declaration must accompany your bird.
- Your bird must reside in an OIE member country.
- You are not importing more than 5 birds.
- Your bird must have undergone isolation for 30 days prior to export OR
- Two vaccinations against avian influenza with the H5 vaccine between 60 days and 6 months of import OR
- 10 days of isolation and undergone a test to detect the H5N1antigen or genome OR
- 30 days of quarantine in a registered premesis in the United Kingdom or other EU countries.
- All permits must accompany birds that are covered by CITES.
- Export permits may be required by the wildlife authority in the exporting country.
- It must be imported at either Dublin or Shannon Airport.
- Invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits entering Ireland from non-EU Member States should have a health certificate to enter Ireland. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the destination country.
If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.
3. Cost of pets
As with all budgeting, people’s circumstances will differ from types of pets and size of pets. Also, some people will be moving with older pets or pets with pre-excisting conditions.
Investigate:
- Cost of pet food and accessories in Ireland: look at companies like Maxizoo, Zooplus, Petstop, Equipet
- Cost of outdoor wooden kennels and indoor bedding
- Cost and whether you can install pet doors in your rented home. You will be leaching heat during winter if you leave windows open for cats
- Cost of everyday veterinary care like vaccinations, blood work and toothcare, but also emergency care
- Cost of insurance for pets
- Flea and Tick care
- Dog Licences and microchipping
- Muzzels, leashes and harnesses
- Poop-a-scoopers and bags for when you go on walks
- Grooming and nailcare (pets get wetter and muddier in this climate you need to consider cleaning options)
- What costs are involved in euthenasia in Ireland and what you do to dispose of the animal’s body
- Fencing and runs
- Car crates for driving with pets
- Doggy Day care
- Rabbits, guinea pigs, snakes, rodents of other kinds and birds- Cages/ Hutches/ Bedding etc
- Does you local vet have a ‘pet plan’ where you can pay monthly?
You may have to google a bit to find the vets in your area, and see what they cost as well as many helpful sites. Some links below
Pet insurance
Just like in South Africa, you can take out pet insurance in Ireland to cover your pet in the event of certain care being required. This basically works on the same premise as medical aid as we know it in SA. As is the case in medical aid, the higher the cover, the higher the cost and depending on the policy, you may have to pay an excess. Make sure you read your policy properly so you are aware of what this may be.
Some policies also offer third party cover, in case your animal injures someone or damages someone else’s property.
There are a huge range of pet insurance providers to choose from in Ireland, see links below
Policy Exclusions
Policy exclusions are items that will not be covered by the pet insurance policy. Common exclusions include:
- Preventive or optional aspects of pet care e.g. vaccinations, neutering and parasite control.
- Pregnancy and whelping/kittening
- Behavioural problems.
- Illnesses that start in the first 2 – 4 weeks of the policy’s commencement date.
- Home visits by the vet
- Pre-existing conditions (vets are often asked to submit details of pets’ previous clinical histories to check for these)
- Working dogs and dogs restricted under the
- Dangerous Dogs Act.
- Routine dental treatments
- Special nutrition, such as “prescription diets”
- Travelling overseas
- Complementary treatments, such as hydrotherapy, homoeopathy and acupuncture
- Euthanasia and cremation
4. Making use of public transport with your animals
Guide dogs and assistance dogs are permitted to travel on all services free of charge without restriction. Be aware that these service dogs must be wearing their official coat, medallion and lead to identify them as a working dog.
Pets on Irish Buses and Trams
The rule is that no pets are allowed in Buses or trams, although this dos seem to be at the discretion of the driver.
Pets on Irish Rail Services
The following is from Irish Rail website directly:
- Small dogs can be carried free of charge provided they travel on the owners lap
- The dog must be kept on a lead at all times unless contained in a basket or in an appropriate container. Dogs on the restricted breeds list must be muzzled while travelling onboard our services
- Small cats can be carried free of charge provided they travel in a secure carrier on the customer’s lap
- Animals are not allowed in restaurant cars with the exception of Guide dogs or Assistance dogs
- If a customer objects to the presence of a dog in their carriage, the owner will be requested to move to another part of the train
Dogs on trains
Guide dogs and Assistance dogs are permitted to travel on all our services without restriction. An assistance dog must be clearly identifiable by official coat, medallion and lead to distinguish it as a working dog and not a pet. A Guide dog must be clearly identifiable by official coat and harness. Only one Guide dog or Assistance dog is permitted per passenger.
Accompanied dogs, other than those described above, can only be conveyed on Intercity services in a Guards Van (non-passenger compartment) if available (eg Dublin/Cork and Dublin/Belfast services only). Charges will apply. Dogs conveyed in a Guard’s Van must be
- secured with a collar and chain and efficiently muzzled
- The construction of the muzzle must render it impossible for the dog to bite any person or animal, but it should not prevent the dog from breathing freely or lapping water; or it must be contained in a wooden case, cage, basket or hamper constructed to make it impossible for the dog to bite any person or animal
- The receptacle must be sufficiently large to allow the dog to stand up and lie down with ease and comfort and must be adequately ventilated
- All dogs conveyed in the Guards Van (non-passenger compartment) must be properly labelled giving the name, address and destination of the owner
If there is no guard’s van (non-passenger compartment) on a service, dogs (other than Guide Dogs, Assistance dogs and small/lap dogs) may not be carried on that train.
Iarnród Éireann reserve the right to refuse to carry any animal which, in the opinion of station staff, is causing or is likely to cause inconvenience to passengers due to its size or behaviour. On train staff are also authorised to have such animals removed from the train.
Pets in Taxis
Taxis are usually OK about transporting pets as long as they are in a container or you have them restrained and ensure that they sit on a blanket. However, it is at the driver’s discretion as to whether they will take you.
Pets in Cars
Whilst we cannot find any direct laws written in Ireland in regards to restraining pets in cars, we have seen reports and articles on people being fined for unrestrained pets, so there must be legislation. What we believe is it falls under “unsecured loads” and a “distraction” rules which carries a fine and points on your licence. So, probably prudent to make sure you have a cage in the car, in the back section of a hatchback, or a pet seatbelt. Also, check with your insurer as their websites often include this on their websites. You may discover an accident in a car caused by a distraction by your pet will make it a reason to decline your claim
5. Leaving your pets outside
In South Africa, it is general practice for many people to have their pets outside of the house. Due to the warm weather you will often find a kennel with blankets outside where the dogs sleep, especially for bigger breed dogs.
You must however consider the difference in the temperature here in Ireland, and our Summer is similar to Spring and Winters are much colder.
If you are bringing a dog over that is not house trained, you might want to consider training your dog, as this is not the norm here, and will in fact be frowned upon. Not saying your dog is not allowed in your yard, but people rather have their dogs indoors and take them for walks, come rain or shine.
6. Finding a rental with pets
It is no secret that landlords on the whole do not want pets in their lettings. Historically a landlord may have had tennants who didn’t care of the structure of the house, the furniture and the garden, or indeed having to deal with complaints from neighbours for noisy or nuisance cats. Landlord who have had these experiences will be hard pressed to convince to have you as the family they want in their property. If the tennancy agreement says no pets and you sign off of that agreement and then bring pets in without permission, you run the risk of breach of the agreement and could face eviction. You will find that in looking for a property the vast majority will say “no pets”
See the link below on a Pet CV
So, how do you convince a landlord to allow you to bring in pets?
- Offer a bigger deposit
- Offer a higher monthly rate
- Offer to clean and or paint the house or parts where the pets may mess
- Agree to replace all furniture or doorways where dogs may chew
- Agree to keep your dogs from messing or fowling in the house
- Perhaps have pictures of your home in South Africa and show that your pets weren’t ones that messed inside or chewed things
- If your home is rural make certain you have adequate fencing to keep dogs away from neighbouring sheep in particular, but cows too. Farm animals cost alot of money and harming or threatening your pet is not un-heard of. Many people keep their dogs in a run if a property is not fully fenced.