My Department provides funding to animal welfare organisations directly involved in the delivery of animal care. In December 2012, funding of €1.365 million was awarded to 140 organisations - details of the recipients of funds are available on my Department's website at: - http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/animalhealthwelfare/animalwelfare/Listoforganisations150113.doc.
My Department also issues a Code of Practice to all recipients of funds which sets out recommendations to promote sound welfare and management practice to which all the organisations should adhere. All recipients of funding involved in the re-homing of dogs must demonstrate that they are participating in a neutering programme in order to assist in controlling numbers of animals and avoid further cases of animal distress. We also remind recipients of the importance of compliance with legislation regarding the control of dogs, namely the Control of Dogs Acts, 1986 and Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act, 1992. Enforcement of this legislation rests with Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local authorities.