Dublin City Council has denied rowing back on its plans to ban 11 breeds of dangerous dogs from all council properties, and said it will continue its programme to rid its flats, houses and estates of these animals.
A protest against the ban will be held by Dog Training Ireland outside the Civic Offices in Wood Quay Dublin at 2pm today.
Animal welfare groups said they had been told by the council that the ban would only apply to tenancies taken up after July 1st and existing tenants would be allowed to keep their animals, unless they were involved in an attack or other anti-social behaviour.
However, the council said yesterday that the ban related to all tenants and they would act on any reports of any of the 11 banned breeds being kept by council tenants.
The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) has asked the council to delay the implementation of the ban in the hope that an alternative solution can be found. The DSPCA said it is prepared to fund a "traceability" system for tenants who own one of the 11 breeds and want to keep their animals.
"A simple solution would be to require mandatory neutering, microchipping and guardianship registration for dogs placed on the list as well as the implementation of the Control of Dogs Act regulations on muzzling and leashes when in public places," Jimmy Cahill, DSPCA general manager, said.
