Dog Control Service

Cork County Council's Veterinary section has been operating its dog control service since 1986, in accordance with the Control of Dogs Act, 1986. This service aims to promote responsible dog ownership by taking the following initiatives:

• Collecting stray dogs.
• Investigating sheep kills.
• Investigating nuisance caused by dangerous dogs or dogs not under proper control.

In order for this to succeed, constant communication with the general public, dog owners, veterinary surgeons and animal welfare groups is essential.

Queries/complaints for the County of Cork are coordinated by the Veterinary Section, please see the Contact Us page for more information.

Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015, as amended

From 31st March 2016, in order to comply with these new regulations, all dogs must be microchipped and registered with an approved database. There are only two exceptions to this new legal requirement:

1. Dogs less than 12 weeks/ 3 months of age,
2. Dogs being taken from the premises where they were born by appointment to a veterinary practitioners facility where they are to be microchipped.

Failure to comply with this requirement is an offence and as such is subject to a fixed penalty payment and/or court proceedings.
Please contact your local veterinary practitioner to arrange to have your dog registered and microchipped today.

Barking Dogs

Excessive dog barking that causes a nuisance is an offence. Where it appears to the District Court that a nuisance has been created as a result of excessive barking, the Court may -

Order a person to abate the nuisance by exercising due control over the dog.

Make an order limiting for such period as may be specified in the order the number of dogs to be kept by a person on their premises.

Direct that a dog be delivered to a dog warden to be dealt with by him in accordance with the provisions of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, as if the dog were an unwanted dog.

Nuisance by Barking Dogs, Section 25, Control of Dogs Act 1986

You can make a complaint about excessive barking to the District Court in accordance with Section 25 of Control of Dogs Act 1986 and Noise Regulation by using this Barking Dog Complaint Form.