Animal Welfare

Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011

Breeders Please Note
Under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 breeders should note the following:-

• A person may register 6 litters during the lifetime of a bitch

• A person may permit a greyhound bitch to have two further litters only (7th and 8th litters) provided that a veterinary certificate is obtained prior to mating the bitch stating that the pregnancy and birth do not present a risk to the health or welfare of the bitch.
This veterinary certificate must be lodged with the Irish Coursing Club, Davis Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary prior to mating the bitch.

• Any further litters (ie a 9th litter or more) will not be registered or the progeny from any further litters will not be registered in the Irish Greyhound Stud Book.

• Breeders should be aware of the number of litters their bitch may have had to ensure compliance with the conditions of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.

Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 Provisions

S10 (1) & (2) Notification of sale or transfer of Greyhounds

A person who sells or transfers ownership of a greyhound must give notice in writing to the ICC if they have sold their greyhound together with name and address of person to whom sold.
A person to whom a greyhound is sold or transferred shall, within 14 days of the sale or transfer, give notice in writing to the ICC of the fact.
Under the term so the Act, failure to do so will incur the serving of a fixed penalty notice in the sum of €250 (or such other amount, being an amount not exceeding €1000), which if unpaid is subject to prosecution in the District Court.

S10 (3) Death of a Greyhound

Registered owner(s) shall, within 14 days, give notice in writing to the ICC the date of death of their greyhound.
Under the term so the Act, failure to do so will incur the serving of a fixed penalty notice in the sum of €250(or such other amount, being an amount not exceeding €1000), which if unpaid is subject to prosecution in the District Court.

S11 (1) & (2) Maximum Number of Litters

A person who causes or permits a greyhound bitch to be mated, inseminated or otherwise used for breeding purposes unless the bitch has reached the age of 15 months commits an offence.
A person who causes or permits a greyhound bitch to give birth to more than 6 litters during her lifetime or, if subsection (3) applies, 8 litters, commits an offence.
A person may permit a greyhound bitch to give birth to no more than two additional litters to the 6 litters referred to in subsection (1) if, prior to a mating or insemination leading to such birth- (a) a veterinary practitioner certifies that the pregnancy and birth do not present a risk to the health or welfare of the bitch, and (b) the certificate is lodged with the ICC.

S12 (1), (2) & (7) Greyhound Breeding Establishments

Where a person has not less than 4 greyhound bitches, that are more than 15 months, has been or is being used for breeding purposes, then an application should be made to the ICC to have the premises at which it is proposed to operate the greyhound breeding establishment registered in the register (Application form available from ICC).
The ICC may refuse to register a premises, if it considers that such refusal is necessary to safeguard the health and welfare of a greyhound or it may attach such conditions as necessary.
An appeal can be made to the District Court by the applicant or holder of Greyhound Breeding Establishment.
See attached .pdf for licenced breeding establishments. [PDF – Breeding Establishments registered with ICC]

Rule 60 (f) of ICC Stud Book Rules-Breeding Notification

A Breeding Notification form to be forwarded by breeder (owner/lessor) to the ICC within 14 days of the mating of a bitch (no fee). Failure to forward such notification and if the mating certificate is not received from the stud keeper within 50 days also, then the litter shall stand debarred.
(The purpose of the breeding notification form is to accommodate inspection of brood bitches prior to whelping)
(Breeding Notification forms available from Stud Dog Agents, Control Stewards, ICC offices, or www.irishcoursingclub.ie)

Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015 Provisions

S2 (a), (b) & (c)
These regulations apply to a dog born after June 1 2015 upon reaching the age of 12 weeks and all dogs from March 31, 2016.
S5 (1)
The ICC t/a Micro Dog ID are a DAFM approved database under the terms of the Act.
Owners are obliged to inform the Database (which holds their microchip details) of any change of ownership, controller, location, death of greyhound, loss of greyhound or return of greyhound.
The complete provisions of the relevant acts cited above are available on www.irishcoursingclub.ie

Meat Feeder Licence

Article 18 (1)(F) of Regulation (EC) 1069 of 2009
Any person wishing to feed Category 2 or Category 3 ABP meat must have a Meat Feeder Licence authorised by the Department of Agriculture.
Application forms may be obtained from the Department of Agriculture 057 8694365 or via email at animalbyproducts@agriculture.gov.ie

Irish Coursing Club,
Davis Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Registration Department:
Tel: 052 6188504/6188505/6188506/6188507
Fax: 052 6172488
Email: registration@sportingpress.ie