Number of dogs destroyed in Derry & Strabane falls drastically as partnership with animal sanctuaries provides lifeline

The number of dogs finding a new home in turn has increased greatly as a result of ongoing work by Derry City & Strabane District Council and Pet FBI, The Rainbow Rehoming Centre and Assisi Animal Sanctuary.

While there were 138 strays impounded and 104 unwanted dogs in Derry & Strabane in the year to April 2020, the vast majority were either reunited with owners, found a new home or were taken in by the charities.

Only three were humanely destroyed last year. This contrasts with the situation a decade ago in 2010 when 246 dogs were impounded and destroyed across the then separate city and district councils.

There are currently over 8,000 dogs licensed issued annually in the council area, and dog licensing has increased 35% since 2015. However 52 fixed penalty notices have been issued to owners for failing to renew a dog licence, and a further 42 for no license.

Barking dogs was the number one domestic noise nuisance complaint in the Council area over 2019/2020, the Council report stated. There were a total of 1,478 complaints concerning dogs lodged with the Council in the year to April 2020, 1,190 of which related to stray dogs. There were 70 reported attacks on people, six incidents of livestock worrying, and 18 attacks on other animals. Two owners were prosecuted for dog attacks.