‘Reams’ of Cork dog breeders and kennels in operation, but only 12 registered with council
CorkmanOnly a dozen commercial dog breeders and boarding kennels are on a Cork County Council (CCC)-maintained register even though a councillor has said that in reality everyone knows both types of business are widespread in the county.
Figures given at this month’s meeting of CCC’s Southern Committee showed that the number of registered dog breeding establishments in the county in 2024 was six, along with six boarding kennels.
Cllr Audrey Buckley questioned the accuracy of the figures.
“We all know that there's just reams of these around the county and I don't understand why we're not doing more for animal welfare. I know if I was looking for boarding kennels for one of my pets I would get so many options and here there’s only six listed.
"We all know Ireland is the puppy farming capital of Europe so I don't agree with that number either,” she said.
The Carrigaline councillor said it would be easy to find out using social media and online searches what dog breeding establishments and kennels are in Cork and “then check if they are licensed.”
Responding to Cllr Buckley, Ted O'Leary of the council’s Environmental Directorate said that from January 1 last year, animal welfare functions performed by CCC were transferred to the Department of Agriculture along with four veterinary inspectors. The department now has “functional responsibility for dog breeding establishments, boarding kennels, the monitoring of all these … that's not to contradict a very good point you made, but it's a matter for the Department of Agriculture.”
“Although the functional responsibility transferred to the department, the legislation hasn't caught up with that yet, so the council is still maintaining the register, albeit it's the Department of Agriculture who are responsible for its implementation and its ongoing monitoring,” he said.
Mr O’Leary said that he has had ongoing engagement with the council’s former veterinary inspectors now with the department and “they are aware that you don't feel that all the premises that should be monitored are being pursued or indeed being registered. So that point has been made to them.”
He added that CCC’s responsibility in relation to dogs since January 1 2025 is “largely around dog licensing, the control of dogs, stray dogs, attacks on livestock, and restricted breeds.”