Control of Dogs Act 1986

Number 32 of 1986

CONTROL OF DOGS ACT 1986

REVISED

Updated to 1 October 2024

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Control of Dogs Act 1986. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2024 (31/2024), enacted 4 October 2024, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Control of Dogs (XL Bully) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 491 of 2024), made 26 September 2024, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number 32 of 1986

CONTROL OF DOGS ACT 1986

REVISED

Updated to 1 October 2024

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section
1.	Interpretation.
2.	Prohibition on keeping a dog without a licence.
3.	Issue of licences.
4.	Persons disqualified from holding a licence.
5.	Exemption from holding a licence.
6.	Transfer of dog licence.
7.	Duration of licence.
8.	Fee for licence.
9.	Control of dogs.
10.	Control of greyhounds.
11.	Stray dogs.
12.	Unwanted dogs.
13.	Finding of stray dogs.
14.	Register of seized dogs.
15.	Duties of a local authority.
16.	Powers of dog wardens.
17.	Bye-laws.
18.	Disqualification from keeping a dog.
19.	Regulation of premises and dogs.
20.	Amendment of Protection of Animals Act, 1911.
21.	Liability of owner for damage by dog.
22.	Dangerous dogs.
23.	Defence in action for damages for shooting dog.
24.	Burial of carcases.
25.	Nuisance by barking dogs.
26.	Search warrants.
27.	Offences and penalties.
28.	Provisions regarding certain offences.
29.	Amendment of Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965.
30.	Prosecution of offences.
31.	Regulations.
32.	Service of notices.
33.	Grants to local authorities and other bodies.
34.	Expenses of Minister.
35.	Extension of Act to other animals.
36.	Repeals.
37.	Short title and commencement.

SCHEDULE

Enactments Repealed

Acts Referred to
Animals Act, 1985	1985, No. 11
Civil Liability Act, 1961	1961, No. 41
Diseases of Animals Act, 1966	1966, No. 6
Dogs Act, 1871	1871, c. 56
Dogs Act, 1906	1906, c. 32
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act, 1960	1960, No. 17
Dublin Police Act, 1839	2 & 3 Vict. c. 78
Dublin Police Act, 1842	5 & 6 Vict. c. 24
Finance Act, 1925	1925, No. 28
Finance Act, 1926	1926, No. 35
Finance Act, 1963	1963, No. 23
Finance Act, 1983	1983, No. 15
Foreshore Act, 1933	1933, No. 12
Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1976	1976, No. 20
Protection of Animals Act, 1911	1911, c. 27
Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965	1965, No. 10
Protection of Animals Acts, 1911 and 1965
Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878	1878, c. 52
Statute of Limitations, 1957	1957, No. 6
Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Act, 1851	14 & 15 Vict. c. 92
Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854	17 & 18 Vict. c. 103
Town Police Clauses Act, 1847	10 & 11 Vict. c. 89
Wildlife Act, 1976	1976, No. 39

Number 32 of 1986

CONTROL OF DOGS ACT 1986

REVISED

Updated to 1 October 2024

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSING AND CONTROL OF DOGS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIVESTOCK FROM WORRYING BY DOGS AND OTHERWISE TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE LAW RELATING TO DOGS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH. [17th December, 1986]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Annotations

Functions transferred and references to "Cathaoirleach" or "Cathaoirligh", "Leas-Chathaoirleach", "chief executive" and "deputy chief executive" construed (16.05.2024) by Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 (7/2024), ss. 10, 23, 25, 26, 28 and sch. 1 parts 1, 2, S.I. No. 207 of 2024.

Functions of Mayor

10. (1) All functions (other than functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1) that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Mayor.

(2) All functions (other than functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1) that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the chief executive of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Mayor.

(3) From the vesting day, a reference in any enactment (other than an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1) to Cathaoirleach shall, in so far as the reference applies to the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Mayor, or as including a reference to the Mayor, as the context requires.

(4) From the vesting day, a reference in any enactment (other than an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1) to chief executive shall, in so far as that reference applies to the chief executive of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Mayor, or as including a reference to the Mayor, as the context requires.

(5) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

Functions of Príomh Chomhairleoir

23. (1) All functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Príomh Chomhairleoir.

(2) From the vesting day, a reference in an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to Cathaoirleach or Cathaoirligh shall, in so far as that reference applies to the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Príomh Chomhairleoir, or as including a reference to the Príomh Chomhairleoir, as the context may require.

(3) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

Functions of Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir

25. (1) All functions conferred by or under any enactment that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Leas-Chathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir.

(2) From the vesting day, a reference in any enactment to Leas-Chathaoirleach shall, in so far as that reference applies to the Leas-Chathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir, or as including a reference to the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir, as the context may require.

(3) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

Director general

26. (1) The chief executive of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after the vesting day, be known as the director general of Limerick City and County Council and is in this Act referred to as the “director general”.

(2) The person who, immediately before the vesting day, was the chief executive of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, continue in office and be referred to in accordance with subsection (1).

(3) On and after the vesting day, a reference in an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1 to chief executive shall, in so far as that reference applies to the chief executive of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the director general, or as including a reference to the director general, as the context may require.

(4) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

Deputy director general

28. (1) On and after the vesting day, a deputy chief executive appointed by the director general under section 148 of the Principal Act shall be known as the deputy director general of Limerick City and County Council and is, in this Act, referred to as the “deputy director general”.

(2) The person who, immediately before the vesting day, was the deputy chief executive of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, continue in office and be referred to in accordance with subsection (1).

(3) On and after the vesting day, a reference in any enactment to deputy chief executive shall, in so far as the reference applies to the deputy chief executive of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the deputy director general, or as including a reference to the deputy director general, as the context may require.

(4) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.

...

SCHEDULE 1

PART 1

Enactments for Purposes of Sections 10 and 23

Number and Year

(1)

Provision

(2)

Extent of Modification

(3)

No. 37 of 2001

Local Government Act 2001

Sections 11(5)(b), 11(8), 31(4)(a), 31(5), 31(7), 31(9), 31(11), 33, 34(2)(e), 36, 37, 38, 104(7)(a), 133(6)(a), 134(4)(b), 140(8), 141(1)(b), 141(4), 142(2)(a), 142(5)(f), 143(1), 147, 148, 158(3), 174(8), 178(2)(b), 178(5), 180(3)(a), 189(9), 190(9), 216(2)(a), 219(1) and 220(1); paragraphs 3(4), 4(2), 4(3), 6(1), 6(2), 6(3), 7(9), 10, 13(5)(e), 13(6) and 16(4)(c) of Schedule 10; paragraph 3 of Schedule 14.

PART 2

Enactments for Purposes of Sections 10 and 26

Number and Year (1)	Short Title (2)	Provision (3)
...	...	...
No. 32 of 1986	Control of Dogs Act 1986	The whole Act.
...	...	...

Editorial Notes:

Collectively cited Control of Dogs Acts designated as primarily the responsibility of the Minister although functions conferred on local authorities (1.01.2002) by Local Government Act 2001 (37/2001), s. 63(2)(a) and sch. 12 part 1, S.I. No. 588 of 2001.

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Control of Dogs Act 1986