Dog Owners Snap Back On Fees

Plans for a ten-fold increase in the annual dog licence have been reversed following opposition from dog owners.

Stormont Agriculture Michelle Gildernew has had to scale back a proposed increase from £5 to £50 annually after owners said this was 'biting the hand that feed them'.

The Minister said: "We have serious dog control problems here and the current system is simply not dealing with these issues effectively.

"As the current fee of £5 has not been reviewed since 1983, it is proposed that it should be increased to a more appropriate level, with significant reductions for pensioners, those on benefits, and owners of neutered dogs," she said, noting that the licence fee currently "falls far short of the cost of enforcing the legislation".

She said that the bulk of the cost of the dog warden service in district councils is therefore currently borne by all ratepayers.

However, she slammed reporting of her initial proposals which would have seen the licence fee take a dramatic rise and said she was mis-reported.

"It is extremely unfortunate that the exploratory thinking on the licence fee was wrongly presented in the media as a firm proposal.

"It is also regrettable that some of the reporting was simply wrong.

"However, I am pleased that this has started a debate on the matter of dog control and licence fees.

"I have listened to the views of the Committee and the public in developing my proposals further and I am proposing to consult on the basis of three options.

"These include a core option based on an inflation-linked rise, an option to maintain the status quo, and an option which covers the full cost of the dog warden service.

"Under my core proposal: a dog licence will be free to those aged 65 and over; the cost to those on benefits will be pegged at the current price of £5; the cost to owners whose dog is neutered will also be pegged at the current price of £5; and the full fee cost to others will be £12.50, reflecting the increase in inflation since the fee was last reviewed in 1983," she continued.

She will also retain the current ban on dangerous breeds and introduce further dog control measures.

"These enhanced measures will focus on prevention through earlier intervention to stop dog attacks from occurring, make it an offence for a dog to attack another dog, and promote responsible dog ownership through a more robust and effective dog licensing regime."

(BMcC/KMcA)