Dog wardens and dangerous dogs

Sir, – In your article on the proposed legislation relating to dangerous dogs, you note that dog wardens have “the power to check on dog licences”, to fine people not having “effectual control” of their dog and “to initiate prosecutions for violations” (“Will the ban on XL bully dogs work? Dog wardens have their say”, News, July 27th). However, what use is a power if it is almost never used?

According to a Government response to a question in the Dáil in 2023, fines issued by wardens dropped by over 40 per cent between 2018 and 2021, while Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown Council said it issued no fines in 2023, both of which seem strange when parallel studies show that dog attacks are rising. This may in part be due to the fact that, unlike traffic wardens, dog wardens generally only work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, despite the fact that most people are walking their dogs, often without leads, outside of these times. Perhaps if the Government plans to use finite time and political energy to create new legislation, it should start by enforcing the laws that are already on the books. – Yours, etc,

CIARÁN NORRIS,

Dún Laoghaire,