(LRC Revised)

Number 32 of 1986

CONTROL OF DOGS ACT 1986

REVISED

Updated to 9 June 2025

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

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

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025

(5/2025), enacted 19 June 2025, and all statutory

instruments up to and including the

European Union (Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Dangers Arising from

Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

(S.I. No. 245 of 2025), made 9 June 2025, 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

9 June 2025

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

9 June 2025

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. [17

th December

, 1986]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

C1

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

E1

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.

Annotations

C1

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

E1

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.

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