1 week Ago By [email protected] (Darragh Mc Donagh)
Nearly 600 dogs were euthanised at local authority pounds in 2023 – an increase of more than 75 percent compared to the previous year, newly released figures have revealed. The pound with the highest kill rate was in County Cork , where 92 dogs were put down, in addition to another 20 that were euthanised in Cork City. The next-highest number of euthanised dogs in 2023 was recorded in Limerick City and County, where 69 animals were put down compared to just five during 2022.
The only pound in the country where no dogs were euthanised in 2023 was Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown. It put one dog to sleep during the previous year, according to official figures. The data was published by Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon this week in response to a parliamentary question from Labour leader Ivana Bacik .
Dog pounds had previously been under the remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development. A total of 1,680 dogs were put to sleep in local authority pounds during the five years between 2019 and 2023, and last year’s total of 597 was the highest number recorded during that period. The pound in Clare euthanised 47 animals in 2023, while 45 were euthanised in Dublin City – representing a steep rise from just five in 2022 and two in 2021.
Another 43 dogs were put down in Tipperary, along with 38 in Wexford, and 23 in County Galway. Just three were euthanised in Galway City , according to the departmental figures. “The Programme for Government provides a commitment to ensure that all legislation and policy in relation to the control of dogs, dog welfare, and dog breeding establishments will transfer to my department,” said Mr Heydon.
“Discussions involving the relevant government departments, including my department, on the approach to implementation of the above have commenced,” he added. The number of dogs euthanised in local authority pounds fell from 403 in 2019 to 172 and 168 during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, before rising again to 340 in 2022. The latest figures show that this number surged by around 75 percent during 2023.
The Department of Rural and Community Development is currently awaiting data for 2024 from local authorities. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here ..
