Limerick - Ireland

[EGAR]

Vicious Dogs Captured By Warden

 

By Anne Sheridan

 

Limerick Leader, 19th January '08

 

This piece follows on from a recent article in the same paper, in which it was reported two Rottweilers were roaming loose in the city. Noel Shinnors, cruelty inspector for the Limerick SPCA insisted someone could have been killed by these straying dogs, and is calling for a ban on "dangerous dogs" (his words) from local authority estates in the city. The last article featured a black and white stock photo of a snarling, lunging Rottweiler. Today's article (in the middle of the front page) shows a colour photo of two of the Rottweilers in the pound. One is behind a grille and the other is being tightly held by the scruff of the neck.

 

 

VICIOUS Rottweilers who were roaming wild in the yard of a city primary school this week have been captured by a dog warden and could be put down, pending prosecution of their owners. In total four Rottweilers were caught this week - two in the county and two in the city - and none of these dogs were muzzled, tagged or on a leash. Concerned parents who feared for their children's safety contacted the Limerick Dog Control Centre in Mungret, following sightings of the rottweilers in the city. However, no attacks have been reported.

 

This Tuesday, a member of the public assisted the dog warden in capturing two of the Rottweilers near Hassett's Cross. John Considine, environment department at Limerick County Council, confirmed the dog pound now has four Rottweilers and one German shepherd in its possession. He said the dog warden, Ollie Moran, made a recommendation that the Rottweilers, which were caught in the city, should not be returned to their owners before a court date has been set, and said Limerick City Council has agreed with his recommendation.

 

Mr Moran said if the owners of the Rottweilers come forward they will face a charge of €10 per dog for each night the dog is in the possession of the centre. "The dogs will be held indefinitely to give their owners a chance to come forward. Thankfully, we haven't received reports of anyone being attacked," said Mr Moran. Under law, owners of restricted dog breeds - such as Rottweilers, German shepherds and pitbulls - must ensure that their dogs are tagged and muzzled; that they are on a lead of not more than two metres in length; that they are in the custody of a person aged 16 years or over, and that owners have a license for their dogs.

 

Mr Considine said the council are taking these prosecutions very seriously and dog wardens have been instructed to take a "zero tolerance approach." "There is a lot of public concern about these dogs and we are going for every offence. We won't be dealing with those offences on a spot fine basis. It will be up to the courts and they may even order the destruction of the dogs," he said.

 

Members of the Gardai are also afforded the same powers to seize these dogs if they are roaming loose, however Mr Considine said they generally report any sightings to the dog centre and request assistance in seizing them. Noel Shinnors, LSPCA inspector, told the Limerick Leader last week that two Rottweilers had been loose for weeks, and said he was " in fear of a person being killed." The dogs were spotted near the Super Valu in Corbally, St Mary's Cathedral, St Senan's School, St Mary's Park and the Dublin Road. Mr Shinnors said he found the dogs outside St Senan's school but they were too vicious to capture.

[ReikiAnge]

Blimey. So they've been roaming for two weeks, haven't bitten anyone and yet are vicious. An excellent piece of journalism there

 

Poor bloody dogs. Give them a break someone.

[EGAR]

The LSPCA is a sub-group of the ISPCA whose President is Marion Fitzgibbon who also runs Limerick Animal Welfare (LAW).

Edited January 19, 2008 by EGAR