As indicated in my reply to Question Nos. 553, 554 and 555 of 20 January 2015, animal health and welfare policy is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, the provisions of which apply to all animals including those in dog pounds. As indicated in the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s reply to Question No. 61 of 28 January 2015, section 11 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides that a person who has a protected animal, including a dog, in his or her possession or under his or her control, is obliged to ensure that the animal is kept and treated in a manner that safeguards the health and welfare of the animal and does not threaten the health and welfare of that animal or another animal.
This basic principle relating to duty to protect animal welfare is the same for any bodies, either governmental or non-governmental, who keep or have responsibility for animals including dogs. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 is enforced by officers of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and by An Garda Síochána and by Inspectors of the ISPCA and the DSPCA under service provisions of the Act. The Act also provides for the authorisation by local authorities of persons to carry out functions under the Act.
In view of the provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, my Department has no responsibility for putting in place the measures identified in the question.
