Found a Pet?

Found a Pet?

If the animal is uninjured and hungry, please feed it with appropriate food, and make water available (don’t give milk as the animal may be lactose intolerant).

Bring the animal to your local vets, animal shelter or dog pound so they can scan them for a Microchip which will hopefully have the owner’s details.

If it is a dog please bring him to the local pound or ring your local animal shelter to see if they have room to take the dog in.   If the pound or animal shelter is closed you can bring the dog to your local Garda station.  The Gardai can then ring the emergency Dog Warden.

If it is a cat or other animal please bring them to your local animal shelter.  Ring them first to see do they have room for them.  Please keep the animal overnight if the animal shelter is closed and ring them in the morning.

If you choose to keep the animal in your home until you find the owner:

• All found dogs MUST be reported to the local dog warden – number can be located from Directory Enquiries.
• Place an ad in the lost and found section of  www.lostandfoundpets.ie.
• Create a poster with the animal’s details, where found, your mobile contact number and a picture of the animal and give this to your local Garda stations, vets, etc. Put this poster up around the area where you found the pet.  It is a good idea not to give a full description of the animal so that if someone contacts you saying the animal belongs to them you can check those extra details.
• Call your local animal shelter to get the animal logged in their Lost and Found Book.
• Bring the dog for a walk in the area that he was found in case anyone recognises him/her.
• Ask around the neighbourhood to see if anyone knows who the cat belongs to.
• Place an ad in the local paper.
• Check the lost & found notices in your local paper and free ad websites.
• Keep a record of what steps you have taken to locate an owner. As long as you can prove that all reasonable steps have been taken and no owner is found you can then rehome the animal.
• If you decide to keep the animal, please do ensure that you carefully consider the commitment required. You must be able to provide proper care, accommodation, food and veterinary care for the rest of the animal’s life.  Animals are expensive to keep.

Dogs:

Excerpt from Irish Control of Dogs Act 1986 Section 13.

“Any person, other than a dog warden or a member of the Garda Síochána, who finds and takes possession of a stray dog shall, forthwith:

• Return the dog to its owner, or
• Deliver the dog to a dog warden, or
• 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.

If you take the dog in you can keep it for 28 days without a licence, then the animal must be licenced and if you decide to keep/re-home the dog, ownership of the dog is not yours until a year and a day have passed. This does NOT apply to dogs adopted/rescued from pounds, only those taken in as strays.”

Dublin Dog Pound Details:

FINGAL AREA – CONTACT FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL ON 01 890 5000 AND ASK FOR DOG WARDEN
ADDRESS OF POUND – DUBLIN COUNTY DOG SHELTER, LYONS ROAD, NEWCASTLE, D22 H0X6
– 087 391 400

At Halloween, we remind the public to be aware of the dangers Halloween poses to the wellbeing of all animals and to take extra measures to safeguard the safety of not only domestic pets but farm animals and wildlife too.

Halloween can be a scary time for our furry friends so it is important that they are kept securely indoors if they are afraid by the noise of fireworks. It’s important your pet is microchipped and is also wearing a collar with an identification tag, so if they do escape, you can be easily reunited.

We have put together some safety tips and advice to help pet owners in the run up to Halloween:

Fireworks
Some pets can be terrified by the sound of fireworks so ensure they are kept safe in a

secure area where they cannot dart out an open door from the noise.  It’s a good idea to walk your dog early morning and before dark, keeping them away from any fireworks in the area.  Pet owners can help train their dogs and cats to become accustomed to the sound of fireworks by playing similar sounds.  Try keeping the lights low, and playing a radio or television in the background to help drown out some of the noise outside. As difficult as it may be, try not to react to your pet showing signs of fear as it may be the best way you can help them. Licking objects such as kong toys filled with treats may help ease your pet’s stress. It is important that they have a safe, secure place to hide indoors if they are scared. If you are concerned that your pet is unmanageably terrified of the noise of fireworks, you should consult your vet to discuss ways for managing your pet’s stress. Halloween Costumes
Some pets may find wearing Halloween costumes stressful. Consider a festive themed bandanas instead which will be less restrictive. If you do choose to put your pet in a costume, make sure it does not limit the animal’s movement, vision, ability to breathe or behave normally. Sweets and Wrappers
Chocolate and raisins are highly toxic to pets, as are any sweets containing the sugar substitute xylitol and should always be kept out of reach from curious paws and noses. Indoor Hazards
Keep dogs and cats away from wires, decorations and candles.  Ingesting foil or plastic wrappers can also lead to digestive problems and may require surgery. If your pet does ingest something toxic, contact your vet immediately. Microchipping– it’s the law!
The ISPCA strongly recommend that all dog owners have their pet’s microchipped. It is a legal requirement for all dogs and puppies once they are 12 weeks old and failure to do so, is an offence under the Animal Health & Welfare Act (AHWA) 2013. Dog owners need to be in possession of a microchipping certificate also so it is important that your contact details are kept up-to-date on the microchipping database. It is the pet owner’s responsibility to inform the database operator of any change so once your dog has been microchipped, check it to ensure your details are correct. If your pet becomes lost, having them microchipped is the best way to ensure they will be reunited with you. Lost pets puts extra pressure on animal rescue centres, dog pounds and veterinary practices but it also causes more upset for pets and pet owners so don’t delay and get your dog microchipped today – it’s the law!  While microchipping is recommended for cats, there are no current plans to make cat microchipping compulsory. Outdoor Pets
Horses, ponies and donkeys should be securely stabled to prevent them from escaping or hurting themselves if they live in areas with a considerable amount of Halloween-related noise. Small mammals or birds should be kept indoors such as a garage or a shed, covering over hutches or cages with blankets to act as sound-proofing. Look out for wildlife
Hedgehogs go into hibernation this time of year, and will sleep in wood piles or heavy scrub and leaves. It is important you check under all wood piles before lighting any bonfires to ensure there is no wildlife hibernating. Some outdoor plastic decorations such a fake spider webs or string lights can snare wild animals, so be careful if hanging them and ensure they are removed after the festivities.

Black Cats
For centuries black cats have been steeped in superstition and depending on where you live, it was either good luck or bad luck to have a black cat walk either toward you or away from you. As Halloween traditions go, black cats and witches go hand-in-paw on a broom. In some countries the idea of witches transforming themselves into black cats was widely believed back in the time of Salem. However, black cats have since regained their status and in many places today, it’s considered good luck for a black cat to cross your path. We are appealing to members of the public to consider adopting one of our super friendly black cats or kittens from the ISPCA after the commotion of Halloween. More information can be found here. Report Animal Cruelty
Unfortunately stray animals can fall victim to abuse or cruel Halloween pranks. If you witness any animal cruelty, please contact your local Garda station immediately and report it to the ISPCA National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 1890 515 515 or report in confidence online here.

Our thanks to the ISPCA for this valuable information

Heat stroke- We can’t say it enough

• Avoid walking your dogs during hot spells. Early morning and late evenings are best as cooler
• Do not come early to your appointment as you will be waiting until your appointment time in your car with your pet
• Avoid any unnecessary journeys with your pet and never leave them unattended in your car
• Short nosed breeds and over weight breeds are more susceptible to heat stroke
• Make sure your pet as plenty of shade and access to clean drinking water at all times
• Freeze some treat filled Kongs for them, give them ice cubes with frozen treats and leave out a damp blanket for them to lie on if needed.