Ireland needs ‘effective’ dog control laws to cut down on dog bite injuries in Irish hospitals.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphries today announced that former Deputy Garda Commissioner John Twomey will head a new stakeholder group tasked with making recommendations on strengthening Ireland’s dog control laws.

The Minister said the task force will consider following the UK in restricting certain dog breeds like the XL Bully in a bid to clamp down on “horrendous attacks” by dogs on people and farm animals.

This follows a tripling of on-the-spot fines for dog control offences - from €100 to €300 –  brought in earlier this year along with increased funding for dog warden services.

Over 3,000 trips to casualty were caused by dog bites in Ireland between 2012 and 2021 - a 50% increase on the previous decade.

On Lunchtime Live, Eve from Dublin said she was  “aghast” to hear how many dog bites are occurring in Ireland and called for action.

“There are laws banning certain dog breeds but none of these laws are being implemented because we have no dog wardens,” she said.

“I think with breeds being banned in the UK [like the XL Bully], we need to do something here too with these dangerous dogs.”

Presa Canario

Paula, a caller from Galway who trains dogs, said banning dog breeds may not have the desired effect in reducing bites.

“The Presa Canario breed was added to the restricted list this year after two of them killed a woman around two years ago,” she said.

“The restricted breeds list means those dogs must be on a four-foot lead handled by someone over 16 years of age and wearing a muzzle.

“Those two dogs killed a woman at a relative’s home so even if they had been law-abiding and they were wearing a muzzle, as the law says, it would not have changed that situation.”

A Presa Canario dog. Image: Farlap / Alamy Stock Photo

Paula said there is “no correlation” between biting incidents and dogs on the restricted list.

“Several years ago in the UK they banned the Pitbull and it was not effective at all in decreasing dog bites,” she said.

“The ban on the XL Bully will happen and the same people will continue to own that dog.

“Then there will be a new dog that becomes trendy and falls victim to the same circle of people.”

Implementation

Sean from Dublin said he owns a German Shepard, which is restricted under existing law, but also called for better implementation of dog control laws in Ireland.

“If you’re going to introduce a new law you need to decide who will enforce it,” he said.

“If we need more dog wardens, fair enough – get them.

“If we need the Gardai to have increased powers, fair enough – give it to them.

“But the Gardai are already overwhelmed, they have more than enough to do in this country.”

Sean said it needs to be certain who is in charge of implementing dog control laws in Ireland for them to be effective.

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Main image: Riz the XL Bully during a protest against the UK Government's decision to ban the breed, 30-09-2023. Image: PA Images / Alamy