SHOULD “DANGEROUS” DOGS BE BANNED FROM CO MONAGHAN HOUSING ESTATES?

Whether certain breeds of dog should be the subject of a ban in local authority housing estates was a matter which featured in a discussion during Monday’s meeting of Monaghan Co Council. Fianna Fáil’s Aoife McCooey thought that the ban on local authority tenants owning dangerous or “trophy” dogs which Louth Co Council had recently adopted should receive consideration in Monaghan. Under debate was a motion forwarded from the Monaghan Municipal District which highlighted concerns raised at that forum by Sinn Féin local public representative (and current Co Council Cathaoirleach) Seán Conlon, which expressed concern over the “gap in provision” created by the closure of a pet rescue facility at Killydonagh, Emyvale, and questioned whether the local authority was being adequately resourced to meet the roles assigned to it in implementing dog control legislation.

Dog control issues were also raised by the Cathaoirleach through a written question dealt with at Monday’s Co Council meeting. The reply to Councillor Conlon pointed out that two additional Co Council staff were to be trained for Dog Warden duties to provide cover for when the Dog Warden was sick or on leave. With regard to the closure of the North Monaghan animal shelter, the reply stated: “The numbers of dogs being admitted to animal welfare shelters in Monaghan has decreased steadily over the past 15 years. The number of stray dogs admitted…