Animal Welfare Information Ireland
Animal Welfare Legislation Ireland
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 serves as the primary legislation governing animal welfare in Ireland.
The Act includes amendments to existing enactments such as the Animal Remedies Act 1993, the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, and the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
Section 2.—(1) In this Act—
“farm animal” means an animal—
(a) bred or kept for the production of food, wool, skin, fur or feathers, or
(b) for use in, or for the purposes of, breeding, sport or the farming of land,
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“protected animal” means an animal—
(a) kept for farming, recreational, domestic or sporting purposes in the State,
(b) when it is in the possession or under the control of a human being whether permanently or on a temporary basis, or
(c) that is not living in a wild state;
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“unnecessary suffering” means, in relation to an animal, pain, distress or suffering (whether physical or mental) that in its kind or degree, or in its object, or in the circumstances in which it occurs, is unreasonable or unnecessary;
and includes (but is not limited to) bovine, ovine, porcine and caprine animals, cervidae, equidae, bees and poultry (including domesticated game birds);
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Section 12 – Prohibition on Animal Cruelty
12.—(1) A person shall not—
(a) do, or fail to do, anything or cause or permit anything to be done to an animal that causes unnecessary suffering to, or endanger the health or welfare of, an animal, or
(b) neglect, or be reckless, regarding the health or welfare of an animal.
(2) A person who contravenes this section commits an offence.
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View: The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
Animal Welfare Legislsation
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
Control of Dogs Act 1986
Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act, 1992
S.I. No. 412 of 2023 Ear-Cropping Of Dogs Regulations 2023
S.I. No 63 of 2015 Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015
S.I. No 427 of 2015 Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015
The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010
General Scheme of the Dog Breeding Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2026
S.I. No. 442/1998 – Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998
Greyhound Racing Act 2019
Welfare of Greyhounds Regulations 2016
Animal Remedies Act 1993
Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011
Greyhound Industry Act (1958)
Horse & Greyhound Racing Act (2001)
Animal Health And Welfare (Sale Or Supply Of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019
Control of Horses Act 1996
Control of Horses Bye-laws.
Wildlife Act, 1976
Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000
Wildlife (Wild Birds) (Open Seasons) (Amendment (S.I. No. 421 of 2023)
SI No. 481 of 2010 (Restrictions on Use of Poison Bait) Regulations 2010
Whale Fisheries Act, 1937
Flora (Protection) Order, 2022
The Notification of Diseases Affecting Terrestrial Animals Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 130 of 2016), amended by S.I. No. 408 of 2017,
(Notifiable diseases questions and answers)
S.I. No. 292/2013 – European Union (Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing) Regulations 2013.
Slaughter Of Animals Act, 1935
Abattoirs Act, 1988
Area: Animals and Farm Animals
Read: ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE ACT 2013
Area: Dogs
Read: CONTROL OF DOGS ACT, 1986
Read: CONTROL OF DOGS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1992
Read: S.I. No. 412 of 2023 Ear-Cropping Of Dogs Regulations 2023
Read: S.I. No 63 of 2015 Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015
Read: S.I. No 427 of 2015 Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015
Read: Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010
Read: General Scheme of the Dog Breeding Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2026
Read: S.I. No. 442/1998 – Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998
Read: Greyhound Racing Act 2019
Read: Welfare of Greyhounds Regulations 2016
Read: Animal Remedies Act 1993
Read: Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011
Read: Greyhound Industry Act (1958)
Read: Horse & Greyhound Racing Act (2001)
Area: Pets
Read: S.I. No. 681 of 2019 Animal Health And Welfare (Sale Or Supply Of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019
Area: Equines
Read: Control of Horses Act, 1996
Area: Wild Animals
Read: Wildlife Act, 1976
Read: Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000
Read: Wildlife (Wild Birds) (Open Seasons) (Amendment (S.I. No. 421 of 2023)
Read: SI No. 481 of 2010 (Restrictions on Use of Poison Bait) Regulations 2010
Area: Marine
Read: Whale Fisheries Act, 1937
Area: Environment-Plants
Read: Flora (Protection) Order, 2022
Area: Farm Animal – Farm Animal Slaughter
Read: The Notification of Diseases Affecting Terrestrial Animals Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 130 of 2016), amended by S.I. No. 408 of 2017,
Read: S.I. No. 292/2013 – European Union (Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing) Regulations 2013
Read: Slaughter Of Animals Act, 1935
Read: Abattoirs Act, 1988
EU Animal Welfare Legislation
EU legislation for live calf transport is governed primarily by Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, which sets strict rules on journey times, rest periods, and feeding intervals for animals.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005
Live Hare Coursing
The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958.
All greyhounds are muzzled at enclosed coursing meetings.
Open coursing is conducted without the greyhounds being muzzled.
Licences issued to the ICC under the Wildlife Acts to capture and tag hares for coursing meetings for the 2026/2027 season.
Section 26 Licence – Limerick Coursing Club
Section 32 Licence to Mark and Tag Hares – Irish Coursing Club
Section 34 Licence to Net Hares – Irish Coursing Club
Irish Animal Welfare-Helpline
General animal cruelty issues
Gardaí
T: 1800 666 111- Garda Confidential Line /Free-phone
Garda Station Directory
https://www.garda.ie/en/contact-us/station-directory/
Farm animals, including horses.
Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine/DAFM-Animal Welfare Division
T: 01 607 2379
E: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
Companion Animals
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals/NSPCA
T: 01 499 4727 – Dublin and surrounding areas
T: 0818 515 515 – All other areas
W: https://nspca.ie/report-cruelty/
Wildlife
National Parks and Wildlife Service/NPWS
T: 999/112 or Local Garda Station
E: WildlifeEnforcement@npws.gov.ie
Marine
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)
T: 0818 347424-24/7
To report water pollution, fish kills, or issues of concern in local rivers/lakes and water sources.
Irish Animal Welfare Statistics
Animal Slaughter Ireland
116,000 animal slaughtered in Ireland without being stunned, under exemptions provided for Halal and other forms of non-stun slaughtering of livestock.
Source: GRIPT (2026) 116,000 ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED WITHOUT STUNNING IN 2025 [ONLINE]. Available at: https://gript.ie/116000-animals-slaughtered-without-stunning-in-2025/ (Accessed; 21 July 2026).
Greyhound Industry Ireland
Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ), the body that regulates greyhound racing in Ireland, has confirmed it keeps no record of why individual greyhounds are euthanised, and that the decision to put down a healthy dog deemed unsuitable for racing or breeding rests solely with the dog’s owner.
The admission, made in response to questions for this article, comes as figures cited in the Dáil by Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh show that 66 per cent of greyhounds born in Ireland between 2021 and 2024 that have since retired from racing and remained on the island are dead.
Just 22 per cent have been rehomed. The Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, did not dispute these figures in the Dáil.
Asked who decides that a greyhound should be euthanised on these grounds, and what oversight applies,
RCÉ said the decision is made by the owner “in consultation with the owner’s veterinary practitioner”. It said: “Accordingly, RCÉ does not hold records on same.” There is no independent welfare officer sign-off, no defined welfare threshold, and no audit trail on RCÉ’s side.
The Department of Agriculture said: “The Department is satisfied with the arrangements currently in place to support greyhound welfare.”
Source: BREAKINGNEWS (2026) Greyhound regulator confirms it holds no record of why healthy dogs are euthanised [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/greyhound-regulator-confirms-it-holds-no-record-of-why-healthy-dogs-are-euthanised-1934582.html/ (Accessed: 7 August 2026).
Irish Animal Welfare Reports
The Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing Bill 2020
Proposer: Paul Murphy- People Before Profit-Solidarity
Vote Taken: 8th July 2026
Location: Dáil Eireann – Irish Parliament – Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Official Voting Record:
Electorate: 174 TDs – A Member of the Dáil is commonly referred to as a Teachta Dála (TD) or Deputy.
Yes-24
No-24
Did not Vote: 25
TDs: YES – Voted In Favour Of a Ban on Hare Coursing
Total: 24
Ciarán Ahern (Labour Party)
Ivana Bacik (Labour Party)
Holly Cairns (Social Democrats)
Ruth Coppinger (People Before Profit-Solidarity)
Jen Cummins (Social Democrats)
Gary Gannon (Social Democrats)
Sinéad Gibney (Social Democrats)
Paul Nicholas Gogarty (Independent)
Eoin Hayes (Social Democrats)
Rory Hearne (Social Democrats)
George Lawlor (Labour Party)
Paul Murphy (Solidarity – People Before Profit)
Ged Nash (Labour Party)
Cian O’Callaghan (Social Democrats)
Robert O’Donoghue (Labour Party)
Roderic O’Gorman (Green Party)
Liam Quaide (Social Democrats)
Pádraig Rice (Social Democrats)
Conor Sheehan (Labour Party)
Marie Sherlock (Labour Party)
Duncan Smith (Labour Party)
Mark Wall (Labour Party)
Charles Ward (100% Redress Party)
Jennifer Whitmore (Social Democrats)
TDs: No – Voted In Favour Of a Ban on Hare Coursing
Total: 125
William Aird (Fine Gael)
Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
Cathy Bennett (Sinn Fein)
Grace Boland (Fine Gael)
Tom Brabazon (Fianna Fail)
John Brady (Sinn Fein)
Brian Brennan (Fine Gael)
Shay Brennan (Fianna Fail)
Colm Brophy (Fine Gael)
James Browne (Fianna Fail)
Pat Buckley (Sinn Fein)
Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
Peter Burke (Fine Gael)
Mary Butler (Fianna Fail)
Paula Butterly (Fine Gael)
Joanna Byrne (Sinn Fein)
Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
Michael Cahill (Fianna Fail)
Catherine Callaghan (Fine Gael)
Dara Calleary (Fianna Fail)
Seán Canney (Independent)
Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Fine Gael)
Matt Carthy (Sinn Fein)
Jack Chambers (Fianna Fail)
Sorca Clarke (Sinn Fein)
Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere (Fianna Fail)
John Clendennen (Fine Gael)
Michael Collins (Independent Ireland)
Niall Collins (Fianna Fail)
John Connolly (Fianna Fail)
Rose Conway-Walsh (Sinn Fein)
Joe Cooney (Fine Gael)
Réada Cronin (Sinn Fein)
Cathal Crowe (Fianna Fail)
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
John Cummins (Fine Gael)
Martin Daly (Fianna Fail)
Pa Daly (Sinn Fein)
Aisling Dempsey (Fianna Fail)
Máire Devine (Sinn Fein)
Cormac Devlin (Fianna Fail)
Alan Dillon (Fine Gael)
Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)
Albert Dolan (Fianna Fail)
Paul Donnelly (Sinn Fein)
Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
Dessie Ellis (Sinn Fein)
Mairéad Farrell (Sinn Fein)
Frankie Feighan (Fine Gael)
Michael Fitzmaurice (Independent Ireland)
Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail)
Norma Foley (Fianna Fail)
Pat the Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
James Geoghegan (Fine Gael)
Thomas Gould (Sinn Fein)
Ann Graves (Sinn Fein)
Johnny Guirke (Sinn Fein)
Marian Harkin (Independent)
Danny Healy-Rae (Independent)
Martin Heydon (Fine Gael)
Emer Higgins (Fine Gael)
Martin Kenny (Sinn Fein)
Keira Keogh (Fine Gael)
Claire Kerrane (Sinn Fein)
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
John Lahart (Fianna Fail)
James Lawless (Fianna Fail)
Paul Lawless (Aontú)
Michael Lowry (Independent)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
Micheál Martin (Fianna Fail)
David Maxwell (Fine Gael)
Paul McAuliffe (Fianna Fail)
Noel McCarthy (Fine Gael)
Charlie McConalogue (Fianna Fail)
Tony McCormack (Fianna Fail)
Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Fein)
Donna McGettigan (Sinn Fein)
Séamus McGrath (Fianna Fail)
Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail)
Conor D McGuinness (Sinn Fein)
Denise Mitchell (Sinn Fein)
Kevin Boxer Moran (Independent)
Aindrias Moynihan (Fianna Fail)
Michael Moynihan (Fianna Fail)
Shane Moynihan (Fianna Fail)
Jennifer Murnane O’Connor (Fianna Fail)
Michael Murphy (Fine Gael)
Johnny Mythen (Sinn Fein)
Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael)
Natasha Newsome Drennan (Sinn Fein)
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Sinn Fein)
Carol Nolan (Independent)
Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail)
Eoin Ó Broin (Sinn Fein)
Maeve O’Connell (Fine Gael)
James O’Connor (Fianna Fail)
Willie O’Dea (Fianna Fail)
Kieran O’Donnell (Fine Gael)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Fianna Fail)
Louis O’Hara (Sinn Fein)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Sinn Fein)
Ryan O’Meara (Fianna Fail)
Naoise Ó Muirí (Fine Gael)
Ruairí Ó Murchú (Sinn Fein)
Louise O’Reilly (Sinn Fein)
Darren O’Rourke (Sinn Fein)
John Paul O’Shea (Fine Gael)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Fein)
Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (Sinn Fein)
Christopher O’Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
Pádraig O’Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein)
Neale Richmond (Fine Gael)
Peter Roche (Fine Gael)
Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)
Brendan Smith (Fianna Fail)
Brian Stanley (Independent)
Edward Timmins (Fine Gael)
Peadar Tóibín (Aontú)
Gillian Toole (Independent)
Robert Troy (Fianna Fail)
Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
Mark Ward (Sinn Fein)
end
Bovine tuberculosis/bTB
Bovine tuberculosis is an infectious disease of cattle. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). The bacterium can also infect and cause disease in badgers, deer, goats, pigs and camelids (llamas and alpacas), as well as many other mammals. In cattle, TB is primarily a chronic respiratory disease but clinical signs are rare.
Bovine TB Action Plan-Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland
By: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine/DAFM
Published: 2025
The Bovine TB Programme includes targeted measures to address the increasing levels of bTB and support farmers to reduce risks and strengthen on-farm biosecurity.
There are five high-level measures and 30 actions in the Plan based on scientific research, evidence and veterinary expertise:
1.Support herds free of bTB to remain free
2. Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB
3. Detect and eliminate bTB infection as early as possible in herds with a bTB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown
4. Help farmers improve all areas of on-farm biosecurity
5. Reduce the impact of known high-risk animals in spreading bTB
Read: Bovine TB Action Plan-Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland
Read: Summary Document
Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2026) Programme Overview 2025 [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/collections/programme-overview/ (Accessed: 10 August 2026).
Northern Ireland
Chief Veterinary Officer Review of Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland November 2024
The review sets out the Northern Ireland context as it seeks to address the current high levels of bovine TB incidence here and takes account of progress towards the actions contained within the 2022 Bovine TB Eradication Strategy. The Review also assesses the current challenges and proposes next steps.
Read: Chief Veterinary Officer-Review of Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland-November 2024
Source: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs/DAERA (2026) TB Partnership Steering Group – Bovine TB in Northern Ireland: Blueprint for Eradication [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/chief-veterinary-officer-review-bovine-tuberculosis-northern-ireland-november-2024/ (Accessed: 10 August 2026).
As at June 28, 2026, on a rolling 12-month basis, herd incidence for TB stood at 5.32%, which is down from 6.4% a year previous.
The number of herds restricted was 5,300, down from 6,449 in the previous corresponding period.
O’ Brien, A (2026) ‘Heydon: Bovine TB eradication possible with current progress’, Agriland. Available at: https:// agriland.ie/farming-news/heydon-bovine-tb-eradication-possible-with-current-progress/ (Accessed: 20 September 2026).
The table below provides details on the number of bagder (sic) samples tested for the presence of bovine tuberculosis at post mortem in 2026 in Regional Veterinary Offices (RVOs) to date and the number of samples which have tested positive for the presence of bTB at post mortem.
RVO # samples # positive
Cavan RVO 59 19
Cork South RVO 101 12
Cork North RVO 67 28
Donegal RVO 62 19
Galway RVO 47 19
Kerry RVO 99 37
Kildare/Dublin/Wicklow RVO 43 4
Kilkenny RVO 137 28
Laois RVO 138 19
Leitrim RVO 48 8
Limerick RVO 58 21
Longford RVO 33 14
Louth RVO 1 0
Mayo RVO 41 13
Meath RVO 122 32
Roscommon RVO 84 17
Sligo RVO 46 10
Tipperary RVO 175 43
Offaly/Westmeath RVO 83 11
Waterford RVO 43 8
Wexford RVO 43 10
Total 1530 372
Oireachatas (2026) Animal Diseases [Online]. Available at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-09-07/2755/#pq_2755/ Accessed: (26 September 2026).
Background:
7/09/2026-Parliamentary Question/2755.
Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of badgers in County Galway found to have TB in a post-mortem inspection in 2026, with a breakdown by DED; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62429/26]
Deputy Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, issued a written reply to this question.
Dog Breeding
Dog Breeding Establishment:
A Dog Breeding Establishment (DBE) is an establishment at which 6 or more bitches, over the age of 6 months and capable of breeding, are kept. All bitches are counted, whether they are used for breeding or not.
DBE’s include dog rescue centres, boarding kennels, hunt kennels, as well as puppy farms.
These establishments must register with their local authority and comply with the requirements of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010.
They must display their certificate of registration in a prominent place at their establishment.
Only local authority dog pounds and premises registered as greyhound breeding establishments are exempt.
Legislation:
The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010
General Scheme of the Dog Breeding Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2026 Ongoing – Not passed and signed into law to date.
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Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines 2018
This document has two sections. Part 1 relates to construction and maintenance of a Dog Breeding Establishment. Part 2 relates to operation and management of a Dog Breeding Establishment.
These Guidelines do not cover all legislation that Dog Breeding Establishments must comply with. For example, they must also comply with relevant Health and Safety legislation. They must also comply with relevant animal welfare legislation.
Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine/DAFM (2026) Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines 2018 [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/dog-breeding-establishment-guidelines-2018/ (Accessed: 25 August 2026).
Greyhound Racing
Greyhound Racing Industry Activity Report 2025
Source: Rásaíocht Con Éireann – March 2026
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RACING
Number of Fixtures 1,464
Races Run 14,889
Total Entries 88,126
Total Prizemoney €9,679,696
Number of Greyhounds Winning Prizemoney 8,129
Number of Greyhounds Raced 9,128
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INDUSTRY
Number of Active Owners 4,393
No. of Trainers 305
New Owners 1,071
Total Attendance 351,637
Number of (FTE) Staff Employed by RCÉ/GRI 253
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WELFARE INSPECTIONS
Number of Welfare Inspections Performed 2,636
% of Fully Compliant Inspections 95.55%
% Satisfactory with Advisory Recommendations 3.70%
% Unsatisfactory / Requiring Intervention 0.75%
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GREYHOUND SUBSTANCE SAMPLING
Greyhound Samples Taken 5,874
% In-Competition Samples 91%
% Out of Competition Samples 9%
% Pass 99.3%
% Adverse Analytical Findings 0.7%
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INDEPENDENT CONTROL COMMITTEE HEARINGS
Number of Cases Heard 38
% Sanctions and in Favour of GRI 100%
Highest Fine €5,000
RACE INJURY MONITORING
% of Greyhounds Raced Not Injured 99.63%
% Injured 0.37%
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REHOMING THROUGH IRISH RETIRED GREYHOUND TRUST (IRGT)
No. of Greyhounds Rehomed Directly by IRGT 592
No. of Greyhounds Rehomed With Assistance From IRGT 621
Source: Greyhound Racing Ireland (2026) Industry Update 2025 [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.grireland.ie/rce-gri-industry-update2/industry-update-2025/ (Accessed: 7 September 2026).
Read: Rásaíocht Con Éireann/Greyhound Racing Ireland (RCÉ/GRI) Greyhound Racing Industry Activity Report 2025
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