Laois dog pound looks to double its capacity

Laois Dog Pound is due to double its capacity and hopes to hire an extra dog warden. 

ISPCA CEO Dr Cyril Sullivan spoke about  the role of the ISPCA in Laois and the dog warden and dog pound services at a meeting of Laois County Council.

Dr Sullivan said the Laois pound was one of four across the country that is run by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(ISPCA). 

He said Laois was one of the more active counties with 29 fines issued last year, 120 dogs collected and 269 complaints about dogs. 

He explained that Laois had been awarded capital funding of €58,992 which would allow the pound to double its kennels from eight to 20. 

“We also need an extra dog warden,” he said. 

Fine Gael Cllr John King welcomed Dr Sullivan and he asked about the law around dogs straying and barking.  

Warden Tristan Blundell explained that he can  detain a stray dog and by law they are required to be delivered back to their owner where possible. He said he can check dog licences but the issue of dogs barking was something that the district court would deal with. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran noted that 20 dogs had been put down in Laois in the past two years. 

Dr Sullivan said last year had been an “exceptional” year in terms of dog numbers because of the end of Covid, with breeding operations closing and people who returned to the workplace unable to look after animals. 

Mr Blundell said there was a five day rule for keeping stray dogs but in practice some animals have been in the pound for months. 

Sinn Fein Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley asked about the success rate in rehoming dogs. 

Dr Sullivan said they were “surprisingly really good” despite the “unprecedented” number of animals being surrendered last year.