With around one million cats and dogs, Ireland is the reigning pet capital of Europe, according to the organisers of the World Animal Week National Pin Collection (October 4th-11th), launched in Dublin's Clarence Hotel yesterday. Dogs are the favourite Irish pet: 600,000 canines are owned by 42 per cent of the population. Cats are slightly less popular, with 400,000 Felidae under the care of 21 per cent of the population.