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Veterinary Services

Veterinary Services

Dog Control

In co-operation with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), Donegal County Council employs two dog wardens who are active throughout the county checking dog licences and dealing with complaints about stray and dangerous dogs.

Complaint about a stray or dangerous dog

If you have a complaint about a stray or dangerous dog, please contact the Dog Warden Service either through the Veterinary Service office or through the Dog Shelter.

Stray Dogs

You can contact the Dog Shelter for advice on stray dogs.  The dog shelter at Glencar Scotch, Letterkenny, is open Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) from 10:30am to 1:30pm.

A dog can bring great pleasure and enjoyment to its owner. If you are looking for a new dog, why not contact the dog shelter and see if you can give one of our dogs a new home? Before rehoming a dog, please consider the following:

  • Are you and your family prepared for the commitment of dog ownership?
  • Will you have time to look after a dog properly?
  • Can you afford the ongoing expenses of dog ownership?

A fee of €40.00 is charged for each dog rehomed from the Dog Shelter: €20.00 of this fee covers the dog licence fee for the first year and €20.00, which is refundable if the dog is neutered within 6 months of being rehomed.

We regularly share posts of dogs available for rehoming from the dog shelter on our Facebook Page.

For further information contact the Dog Shelter

  • By clicking on the link for the required licence type, you will be brought to Licences.ie and asked to sign in or register for an account to continue
  • If you don’t already have an account select Register and complete the short registration form and click the Register button
  • You will receive an Account Activation email. Click on the Activate button in this email. You will be brought directly to the application form you selected
  • Complete the form. Please note all compulsory fields, marked with a red asterisk, must be completed before you can pay for and submit your application
  • When you submit the form and pay you will receive a confirmation email notification
  • Your licence should issue to you by post within 10 working days
  • A copy of your application is available to view by clicking My Applications
  • Contact the Veterinary Service for further details.

Annual

Annual Dog License  (English)

Ceadúnas madra bliantúil   (Irish)

Lifetime

Lifetime Dog License (English)

Ceadúnas madra saoil (Irish)

Anyone with six or more female dogs that are capable of breeding and are over 6 months of age must register their premises as a dog breeding establishment. 

Check out the Register of Dog Breeding Establishments in Donegal. 

XL Bully Ban Regulations

The Minister for Rural & Community Development introduced new regulations under the Control of Dogs Act on 1st October, 2024 in relation to XL Bully type dogs.  The regulations will prohibit the ownership, keeping, purchase, disposal, abandonment, allowing to stray, breeding or importation of XL Bully type dogs after 1st February, 2025.

After the 1st October, 2024 anyone who currently owns an XL Bully type dog has 2 choices:

  1. If they do not wish to keep their dog, they will be able to surrender the dog to their local authority Dog Warden service where the dog will be euthanised in a humane manner.
  2. If they wish to keep their dog, they will have until the 1st February 2025 to apply for a Certificate of Exemption which will allow them to keep their dog until the end of its natural life, provided they continue to meet the relevant criteria required to obtain the Certificate of Exemption.

Application Forms and information on applying for a Certificate of Exemption is available


XL Bully Type Dog Regulation Ireland Frequently Asked Questions

The XL Bully type dog is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type. The XL Bully type dog is typically larger (both in terms of height and body shape) and more muscular than other American Bully breed types such as the ‘Micro’, ‘Pocket’, ‘Standard’ and ‘Classic’.

The only legally recognised method of identification of your dog as an XL Bully Type in Ireland is by use of the Physical Conformation Standard. Owners should use this standard to determine if their dog is covered by the ban.

The minimum height requirement for an adult male is from 51cm (20 inches) at the withers* and for an adult female from 48cm (19 inches) at the withers*. Measure from the ground to the tops of the shoulders of your dog.

*Withers: the highest point of body immediately behind the neck where height is measured.

It should be noted that if the minimum height requirement is not met then your dog is not considered an XL Bully type dog and no further assessment is needed.

How do I measure my dog at the withers?

Blue Cross have a very useful video explaining how to measure your dog at the withers.

It is the owner’s responsibility to determine if their dog is covered by the ban. Use the Physical Conformation Standard to identify if your dog is an XL Bully type dog, and if you think your dog could be an XL Bully type dog, you should comply with all new requirements. This includes puppies that may grow up to be an XL Bully type dog.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development intends to introduce a new regulation under the Control of Dogs Act in relation to XL Bully Type Dogs, which will come into effect on 1st October 2024. This regulation will prohibit the ownership, keeping, purchase, disposal (whether by sale or otherwise), abandonment, allowing to stray, breeding or importation of XL Bully type dogs.

After the 1st October anyone who currently owns an XL Bully type dog has 2 choices:

  1. If you do not wish to keep your dog, you will be able to surrender the dog to your local authority Dog Warden service where the dog will be euthanised in a humane manner.
  2. If you wish to keep your dog, you will have until the 1st February 2025 to apply for a Certificate of Exemption which will allow you to keep your dog until the end of its natural life, provided you continue to meet the relevant criteria required to obtain the CoE.
  1. After the 1st February 2025, if you are the owner of an XL Bully type dog and have a Certificate of Exemption (CoE) then no further action is required. You may be requested to present that CoE to a Dog Warden or member of An Garda Síochána within 10 Days, if requested.
  2. After the 1st February 2025, if you are found to have an XL Bully type dog in your possession as determined by the dog warden in accordance with the XL Bully type dog standards, without a Certificate of Exemption or proof of application for a CoE, the Dog Warden can seize your dog and have your dog euthanised in a humane manner.
  3. After the 1st February 2025, if you are found to have an XL Bully type dog in your possession without a CoE or proof of application you may be charged with an offence under the Control of Dogs Act 1986.

Opening Times

Motor Taxation 9.15am to 12.15pm, and 1.15pm to 3pm (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Cash Office 9am-12.30pm, and 1pm-4.00pm (Monday to Friday)

Other Services 9am-12.30pm, and 1pm-4.30pm (Monday to Friday)