Dogs Trust Welcomes New Animal Welfare Strategy But Calls For Stronger Protections For Dogs In Breeding Establishments

Dogs Trust has welcomed the publication of the Government's new Animal Welfare Strategy 2026–2030, but has highlighted the need for the existing draft Dog Breeding Establishments legislation to be strengthened in line with the recommendations made by a range of animal welfare groups.

Dogs Trust believes the Strategy marks a milestone moment for animal welfare in Ireland, particularly through its commitments to reform dog breeding legislation. These commitments must now be backed by action to deliver higher standards of dog welfare and stronger enforcement.

The charity recently raised concerns before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food that the draft Dog Breeding Establishments (Amendment) Bill does not go far enough to protect every dog and puppy in commercial breeding establishments.

A key concern is the proposed requirement for one full-time equivalent employee, working 39 hours per week, for every 20 adult female dogs. Those dogs could have litters bringing the total to 140 dogs and puppies, before stud dogs or retired breeding dogs are counted, without any increase in the staffing requirement.

Dogs Trust is calling for the legislation to adopt a welfare-outcome approach, under which every licensed Dog Breeding Establishment would be required to develop and implement a comprehensive welfare management plan covering the physical, behavioural and psychological needs of every dog and puppy in its care, including appropriate exercise, socialisation, enrichment, veterinary treatment and individual attention. Establishments would then be inspected and assessed against their ability to deliver these standards in practice.

Commenting on the new animal welfare strategy, Policy, Compliance and Research Manager at Dogs Trust Ireland Sarah Lynch said: "The publication of the new Animal Welfare Strategy is a line in the sand moment to put animal welfare at the heart of Government policy over the coming years. While there are many positive commitments in the strategy, their success will depend on implementation and effective enforcement.

“If we’re serious about improving the lives of dogs in Ireland, then the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill needs to be grounded in reality. Dog welfare doesn't operate on a 39-hour working week. Dogs and puppies require care seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and their needs can become particularly acute during whelping, illness or emergencies. We believe both the legislation and its oversight need to be strengthened to ensure welfare standards are upheld and enforced."

Dogs Trust welcomed yesterday’s publication of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food’s report on the draft dog breeding legislation. The charity was pleased to see support for many of the recommendations made by Dogs Trust and other animal welfare groups, including the staff-to-dog ratio, limits on the number of dogs kept on site and traceability.

Dogs Trust also welcomed the Strategy’s commitment to establish a new working group on dog control and breeding establishments. The charity is calling for the separate report of the previous Dog Control Stakeholder Group, of which it was a member, to be published so its recommendations can inform the new group’s work.

Dogs Trust has also welcomed the Strategy's commitment to progressing the new European Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats and developing a centralised online dog-traceability portal. Dogs Trust has long advocated for a national traceability system linking dogs to their breeders, parents, breeding establishments and subsequent ownership, arguing that such a system is fundamental to effective welfare enforcement.