THE COST of an annual dog licence is to rise from €12.70 to €20 on January 1st, the first increase since 1998. Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan (pictured) said the fee was modest and in line with the increase in the consumer price index.
Mr Hogan said he was also introducing a new €140 licence covering a dog’s lifetime, which could be obtained from local authorities rather than a post office. The €400 general licence for owners of multiple dogs would also be available from local authorities.
Meanwhile, Mr Hogan has signed the commencement order for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, paving the way for tighter controls to prevent cruelty from January 1st. He was at the Dogs Trust yesterday to mark the signing of the Act.
Mr Hogan said most dog-breeding establishments were well run. “However, I am well aware of problems with a small number of establishments. The legislation will deal with these operators, who seem to have no respect for the animals they use.”
Mark Beazley, executive director of Dogs Trust, which helps stray and abandoned dogs, said the signing of the order marked a historic day for dog welfare in Ireland.
