How to report an urgent or general welfare concern, including stray or abandoned animals.
Urgent: Any Animal (24/7)
Example: Animal in pain or distress; horse straying on a roadway; an animal being beaten or treated cruelly; an animal causing danger to people; racing horses on a public road;
Ring 999/112 and ask for An Garda Síochána.
What Gardaí Can Do
Gardaí can or may engage with a vet, the Fire Brigade, dog warden and or a local animal rescue group for assistance and other Authorised Officers under a range of legislation.
General Welfare ConcerN
Suspected cruelty, neglect, unnecessary suffering, distress or any welfare concern (Any Animal)
All Ireland
24/7 or Out of Hours
- Contact your local Garda Station.
View list of Garda stations.
Every Garda is authorised under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
Office Hours
- Contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Cruelty Helpline
Telephone: 01 607 2379 or 0761 064 408
Email: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
The department have Authorised Officers who are also Veterinary Inspectors in each county in Ireland and are also responsible for dealing with welfare inspections for farm animals.
- Local Authority or Council: Some local authorities have veterinarians and departments that deal with animal control. Contact your local authority.
Animal Welfare/Rescue Organisations
Local animal welfare or rescue organisations may be able to assist Gardaí or authorised officers, however, ensure to contact authorities first.
If the incident relates to a donkey, also report the incident to the Donkey Sanctuary.
Dublin
24/7 or Out of Hours
- Contact your local Garda Station.
View list of Garda stations.
Every Garda is authorised under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
Office Hours
- Contact the DSPCA or
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Cruelty Helpline.
Telephone: 01 607 2379 or 0761 064 408
Email: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
The Department of Agriculture have Authorised Officers who are also Veterinary Inspectors in each county in Ireland and are also responsible for dealing with welfare inspections for farm animals.
NB: The DSPCA cannot investigate incidents on farms. Please contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Cruelty Helpline and or Gardaí in the case of a farm animal or animal such as a horse, on farmland.
Cavan, Carlow, Cork, Donegal, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary, Roscommon, Waterford, Westmeath, Wicklow
Contact:
- Contact your local Garda Station.
View list of Garda stations.
Every Garda is authorised under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. - ISPCA or
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Cruelty Helpline.
Telephone: 01 607 2379 or 0761 064 408
Email: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
The Department of Agriculture have Authorised Officers who are also Veterinary Inspectors in each county in Ireland and are also responsible for dealing with welfare inspections for farm animals.
NB: The ISPCA cannot investigate incidents on farms. Please contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Cruelty Helpline and or Gardaí in the case of a farm animal or animal such as a horse, on farmland.
Greyhounds (24/7)
- Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) has launched a confidential phone line which will be available to members of the public to report greyhound welfare concerns.
Tel: 061 448100
Email: confidential@grieland.ie
Further Information: www.grireland.ie - The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Cruelty Helpline.
Telephone: 01 607 2379 or 0761 064 408
Email: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
The Department of Agriculture have Authorised Officers who are also Veterinary Inspectors in each county in Ireland and are also responsible for dealing with welfare inspections for farm animals.
Farm Animals (or animals on a farm where food is produced for human consumption)
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Animal Cruelty Helpline.
Telephone: 01 607 2379 or 0761 064 408
Email: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
The Department of Agriculture have Authorised Officers who are also Veterinary Inspectors in each county in Ireland and are also responsible for dealing with welfare inspections for farm animals. - Contact your local Garda Station.
View list of Garda stations.
Every Garda is authorised under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
Stray Animals
Stray Dog
If you have a found a dog straying, by law, you must do the following:
(a) return the dog to its owner, or
(b) deliver the dog to a dog warden, or
(c) detain the dog and give notice in writing containing a description of the dog, the address of the place where it was found, and the address of the place where it is detained to the member in charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was found, or to a dog warden
Stray Horse, Donkey, Mule, Hinny
Report strays to:
- Your local Garda station and
- Your local authority.
If urgent (e.g. animal or person is in immediate danger) – ring 999/112.
Illegal Dog Breeding Establishment
Illegal Dog Breeding Establishment (other than Greyhound Breeding Establishment)
Contact the Local Authority.
Illegal Greyhound Breeding Establishment
Contact the Local Authority or An Garda Síochána.
