Stray Dogs and the law guidance from Donegal Animals in Need

Volunteers from Animals In Need (AIN) are regularly called out to catch stray dogs and to hopefully reunite them with their owners.

In some cases, the dog has accidentally got out through no fault of their owner but in many others, the dogs are being allowed to roam on a regular basis.

The volunteers will give up their Saturday night to help a lost dog get safely back home, but when they are then faced with abuse from the dog’s owner as the dog will apparently go home when he is ready to, it not only is an irresponsible attitude, it is also illegal.

Under Irish law, a stray dog is classified as any dog who is in a public place unaccompanied by their owner or a responsible person, including dogs that are not under proper control.

Stray dogs can be seized by the dog warden or Gardaí and brought to a dog pound. If they are not reclaimed within five days, they can then be rehomed or put down. There is a fee to reclaim a seized dog and the owner must produce or purchase a dog licence.

The owner of a stray dog also faces an on-the-spot fine of €100, which can go up to €2,500 or 3 months in prison if it is not paid.

Stray dogs can pose a danger to themselves, motorists, the public and other animals including sheep, all of which the owner is legally responsible for.

If the dog should cause an accident, not only will the owner be faced with a hefty vet bill, should the dog survive, but they are also liable for any damage or injury caused.

There is also the issue of dog faeces, as dogs obviously cannot pick up after themselves.

The bottom line is, if you are too lazy to walk your dog and look after it properly, don’t get one in the first place.

The Letterkenny Pound is full of dogs who have been found wandering around and many are never reclaimed.

AIN takes out unclaimed and surrendered dogs from the Letterkenny Pound on a weekly basis.

Kitten found in Malin

The vast majority of these dogs are collies and include a lovely dog called Sailor, who was rescued from the Pound a few weeks ago.

He has happily settled in at his foster home where he likes to climb up and lay on the garden furniture.

Sailor is in great form and will be going to his forever home soon.

The cat rescuers have had a busy week, with fourteen cats and kittens rescued, eight felines rehomed and sadly, four cats died.

The four cats who passed away had been beyond help when they were found.

Three of the cats were unneutered tom cats, who due to the harsh lifestyle they had been living, a life filled with hunger, cold and fighting, had picked up wounds, infections and diseases.

Amongst them was a white cat with only one ear and an open wound where the other ear had been, caused by skin cancer. He also tested positive for FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus).

A badly emaciated tom cat was found with a large, infected wound on his neck that had eaten away the flesh there. He also could not be saved.

The youngest new arrival this week was a 10-week-old kitten found in Malin Town.

He was seriously emaciated, with a damaged, cloudy eye and a touch of cat flu and had clearly been out on his own for a while.

Sick and injured tom cat did not survive 

The kitten was believed to be feral but while he was being checked over by his fosterer, it emerged that he is a sweet little boy, he had just been terrified at first. He is doing well.

AIN’s humane cat traps are in demand at the moment, with all of them in use or loaned to the public, but additional new traps have been ordered and are on their way.

Volunteers were also called out to round up two donkeys who were running around Donegal Town.

Finally, AIN would like to say a huge thank you to Roisin Gillen, the proprietor of Pretty Baked in Donegal Town, who donated €350 from proceeds of cakes baked in memory of her beloved dog Hazel.

To help AIN’s animals, please donate €2 to AIN’s ‘Help Us To Help Them’ fundraising appeal via your phone by texting the word ‘KITTEN’ to 50300. Every last cent goes directly to the rescued animals for their food, bedding, vet bills, worming treatment and vaccinations.

For further information on adoption, fostering, volunteering etc, please contact the main helpline on 087 1356188. For cat/kitten enquiries please call 087 7644420. Animals In Need Donegal is also on Facebook and has a website at http://www.animalsinneeddonegal.com.