July 9th, 2010
One Comment
After some last minute changes and some tense moments in the Dail, The Dog Breeding Establishments Bill was successfully passed yesterday.
The bill which is intended to regulate the dog breeding industry had faced stiff opposition from Greyhound and Hunting organisations who believed they should be exempt from fees and regulation.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley proposed the first draft of the Dog Breeding Bill back in 2005 and has made it one of the Green Party’s leading agendas.
In short the bill will ensure that any establishment that is breeding dogs (six or more breeding bitches) will be subject to inspection and registration fees. There will be limits to the number of litters that any one female dog can have.
It also proposes the microchipping / tattooing of dogs which should help in identifying the owners of lost or stolen dogs.
Last week the Government agreed to amendments that would exempt greyhounds from the Dog Breeding Bill and instead the breeding of greyhounds would be dealt with through an amendment to the 1958 Greyhound Industry Act. Hunts also will be exempt from registration fees for their puppy kennels.
Orla Aungier of Dublin SPCA welcomed the Bill and said she believes the long-term introduction of microchipping is “absolutely essential”.
By Juan. Filed under Animal Welfare, Dogs, News.
Why should greyhounds be exempt from the dog breeding bill? Why should hunts be exempt from reg fees? This is way too little in the improvement of animal welfare in Ireland,and is a case of the Government being told what to do by people who profit from the suffering of animals…Puppy mills must be closed permentally,how could anyone approve of such cruelty? apart from the unscrupulous people who gain from their suffering, as well as the shocking cruelty of puppy mills,coupled with human stupidity (failure to spay & neuter their pets) they are the reason thousands of homeless dogs are murdered needlessly each year in Ireland, and because the Government continues to allow this insanity, they should completely fund all the animal shelters that are bursting at the seams with unwanted pets.
The Government has a duty of care to change this cruel situation, and to take Ireland out of the dark ages regarding animal cruelty/welfare. It would appear that the Government can not deliver on strict animal welfare/cruelty laws without being influenced by those who gain financially through the suffering of animals,and for that reason I think the power to make the necessary changes required for the good of all animals should be given to organisations who really do care about animal welfare/cruelty laws.