Dublin demonstration

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THE CONTROVERSY over Dublin City Council’s plans to restrict tenants from keeping certain breeds of dog in its properties has erupted again – with angry owners once again picketing council offices and threatening further demonstrations.
The group behind the protests, ‘Deed Not Breed Dublin’, claims the council is discriminating against tenants by insisting that if they own one of ten named breeds they must have the dog neutered or spayed and microchipped by September 30, or be deemed to have broken their tenancy agreement and risk eviction.

Black list

The breeds on the council black list are the Bullmastiff, Dobermann, Bull Terrier, German Shepherd, Akita, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Japanese Tosa, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and pit bull.
According to Lillian Colgan, owner of three pit bulls and spokesman for the protest group, the council is ‘effectively labelling tenants as irresponsible dog owners.’
She also alleges that such an action taken by the council must be backed by a new bylaw.
Last July, the council was intent on banning the breeds from its flats, houses and estates on public safety grounds, and appeared unmoved by the distress and anger caused.
Owners were told they would be given an undefined ‘reasonable time’ to rehome their dogs but if alternative accommodation could not be found the animals would be seized by wardens and destroyed.
According to council officials, the decision to remove what they have termed ‘dangerous breeds’ was prompted by an increasing number of complaints from tenants – and the legal implications of an attack by one of the dogs on a council-owned property or estate.
Then, some months ago, following representations by the Dublin SPCA and the Irish Kennel Club, council officials agreed the compromise.
As part of the deal, Dogs Trust Ireland agreed to carry out the procedures on the dogs at minimal cost.
At the time, senior council official Vincent Healy said he accepted that some tenants were responsible dog owners and had built up a relationship with the breeds and that they would be very upset if they had to give away the dog or have it put down.
But he warned: “We remain steadfast in achieving our primary objective of ensuring our streets, parks and council neighbourhoods are safe for people to walk and for children to play in.
“Where tenants persist in illegally keeping one of the restricted breeds in their home the council will consider it a breach of tenancy that could lead to eviction.”
Ms Colgan acknowledges that the safety issue is paramount but claims it is being tackled in the wrong way.
“We have three dog wardens for the whole of Dublin and they are not available after 5pm or at weekends,” she said. The council should have the staff to apprehend irresponsible owners not punish responsible ones by imposing bans.”
Significantly, a number of councillors are backing the tenants in their fight.

‘Can’t be done’

One of them, Killian Forde of Sinn Fein, said he had asked for ‘hard evidence’ to justify the action being taken but he says that officials have not produced it.
“These dogs have already been demonised and now efforts are being made to rewrite tenancy agreements because of the council’s liability fears,” he said.
“I believe that legally that can’t be done.”