Heartbreak as dog euthanasia rises 10% despite fewer strays entering Irish pounds
There's a 93% increase in the number of dogs euthanised between 2022 and 2024
DOGS Trust Ireland has expressed serious concern following the release of figures showing a 10% increase in dogs being put to sleep in Irish Local Authority Dog Pounds, even as fewer animals entered the system.
The Irish Dog Control Statistics, released this week by the Department of Rural and Community Development, revealed that 655 dogs were euthanised in 2024, up from 596 in 2023. The figure represents a staggering 93% increase compared to 2022.
The rise is particularly troubling given that the number of dogs entering Irish Dog Pounds actually decreased by 6% last year, dropping from 7,510 in 2023 to 7,041 in 2024.
Under the Control of Dogs Act, dogs that have completed their mandatory five-day stay in Irish Dog Pounds can be euthanised to create space if the pound cannot rehome them or find a rescue with capacity to take them.
Sarah Lynch, policy, compliance and research manager at Dogs Trust Ireland, said the charity welcomed the increased detail in this year’s report, which now includes information on dogs’ sex, age, breed, neutering and microchip status, as well as reasons for surrender.
“While it is indeed very concerning to see the number of dogs being put to sleep in pounds increase again this year, we are pleased to see that there is so much more background information being recorded,” Ms Lynch said.
“It is only by gathering and analysing this data over time that we can begin to build a clearer picture of why dogs are being surrendered. This will allow us to create education and early prevention programmes to stop dogs from needing to be surrendered in the first place.” The charity noted that while the reduction in dogs entering pounds is positive, many animal welfare organisations remain under severe pressure as they take in surrendered dogs from families who can no longer care for them.
Dogs Trust, Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, currently has over 200 dogs in its care and rehomes dogs nationwide through its regional rehoming programme.
