In the Dog House

Welcome to Carrickfergus Borough Council's section for dog owners.  Here you will find information about the dog pound, caring for your dog, how to get a dog licence and responsible dog ownership.

The dog pound
Carrickfergus Borough Council employs one Dog Warden who operates Monday - Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.  Anyone wishing to adopt a dog from the Dog Pound should visit us at:
Sullatober
Marshallstown Road
Carrickfergus.

T: + 44 (0) 28 9335 1639. 

The opening times are 10.00am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday and 10.00am to 12 noon on Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

• To adopt a dog from the pound costs £20, plus £5 for a dog licence.
• To re-claim your dog it costs £15 if claimed on the first day plus £3 per day.

We take every precaution to ensure that all dogs leaving the Pound are in a healthy condition, however, we strongly recommend you take your dog to a local Veterinary Surgeon for a health check and vaccinations as soon as possible.

We hope you find this section useful. If you require any more information on the topics covered here, contact the Environmental Services Department at the Council on 028 9335 8000.

A dog is for life
Before you buy or adopt a new dog please be confident that you have the time, money and energy to look after it. Also make sure you have selected a dog that will fit in with your lifestyle.

Here are some factors you should consider:

Time:

• You will be responsible for your dog for the next 10-15 years.
• Puppies require more time than adult dogs. You will have to house it, provide obedience training and play time. Adopted dogs may require more training and lots of patience.
• In their first year, dogs need 3 - 4 twenty minute play sessions a day.
• Adult dogs require lots of exercise - about 30 minutes per day. Large breeds, terriers, herding and sporting dogs require 2 - 4 times as much exercise.
• All dogs require grooming. Long haired dogs will require grooming once a day. Short and medium haired dogs need to be groomed at least once a week.

Costs:

• Buying a dog - pedigree dogs can cost anything from £200 - £1000. Mixed breed dog costs vary. Most animal sanctuaries also charge adopters for a dog.

• Health care - all puppies need to be vaccinated at eight and twelve weeks. They will also need annual booster vaccinations.
• Your dog will also have to be wormed regularly. Dogs have accidents and illnesses as they get older - get your dog a veterinary pet insurance plan to help with these costs.
• Neutering - dogs not kept for breeding should be neutered.
• Food - some pedigree dogs may require special food due to food allergies. Food costs increase as your dog gets bigger. A large dog may require 6 times as much food as a small dog. Older dogs will require special diets and medications.
• Grooming - there may also be grooming fees - coat cutting, toenail clipping and ear cleaning for long-eared dogs.
• Holidays – you may incur pet sitting/boarding fee costs.
• Equipment - you will need a dog crate, bowls, collar and lead, toys, grooming equipment. You may also need a dog bed or dog run.

Lifestyle:

• Dogs are pack animals and generally like the company of humans and other dogs. Do not leave your dog for long periods of time. They need to play and exercise.

• Do not get a large or working dog if there are no open spaces to exercise it near your home.
• If you have a demanding job you may be too tired to exercise a dog twice a day.
• You will need lots of patience with a new puppy or an adopted dog for house and obedience training. Find out if any of your family are allergic to dog hair before getting a dog.
• If you are fussy about your home and do not have time to clean away dog hair, do not get a long haired breed.

Selecting a dog:

• When viewing a potential new dog, don't make an instant decision. Think about how the dog will fit in with your family, your life style and other pets.
• Get to know the general breed traits of dogs before you make a selection.
• Do not buy a dog as a surprise for someone else as they may not like your choice.
• If you are adopting a dog find out about its background. If you are selecting a new puppy find out about the parents' temperaments.
• Before you bring a new dog/puppy home, make sure you have all the required food and equipment.
• Put expensive items in safe places so the dog cannot break them in play.
• Identify household poisons and lock them away.

Every animal has five basic rights which must be upheld by its owner. These are:

• Freedom of movement - dogs should not be curtailed for prolonged periods of time in a kennel, outhouse or chained up at the bottom of the garden.

• Food & water - dogs should have constant access to clean, fresh water and should be fed at least twice per day. Puppies should be fed three to four times per day until they are six months old.

• Shelter - dogs should have a clean, draught free building or kennel which protects them from the elements. Kennels should be cleaned out every other day to ensure the dog's continued good health.

• Exercise - depending on breed, dogs should receive anywhere between 30 minutes to one hour of exercise every day.

• Psychological freedom - like humans, dogs become stressed if unable to express their frustration. A stressed dog behaves in a way that will attract human attention. Barking, biting and chewing furniture, chasing, digging, and forgetting its house training are all behavioural signs that the dog is not at ease with its environment.

Other considerations include:

• Grooming - some dogs require regular grooming and should be brought to a professional groomer if they have long, difficult coats. In summer, be on the lookout for fleas and ticks on your dog's scalp.

• Insurance – taking out insurance means that should your dog damage property or injure someone, the insurance company may be liable for costs. Insurance also covers the prohibitive costs of some veterinary treatment. Always check your policy beforehand.

• Neutering - prevents the misery of unwanted litters and promotes the health and well being of your pet.

• Vaccinations – disease prevention by vaccination must be started in puppyhood and maintained by annual booster doses throughout the animal's life.

• Older dogs that are re-homed from a shelter are normally vaccinated and the new owner will receive a certificate of vaccination.

• Cars are death traps for dogs - never leave your dog in a car in warm weather. A dog is incapable of dealing with high temperatures inside a car, and will quickly suffer from heatstroke and eventual heart failure.

Dog Licensing

Where can I obtain a Dog Licence?
You can apply for a dog licence at Reception in the Council's Museum & Civic Centre, 11 Antrim Street, Carrickfergus, or when you are homing a dog at the Council’s Dog Pound.

How much does it cost?
A licence is valid for one year and costs £5 (or £2.50 if you are over 65 and living alone). A block licence costing £12.50 is available under certain circumstances to persons keeping 3 or more dogs, running a breeding establishment or operating guard dog kennels.

What are the benefits?
A dog's licence offers some proof of ownership. Under the Dogs (NI) Order 1983, it is a legal requirement that anyone in possession of a dog must hold a valid licence. Each owner who registers their dog with their local Council is issued with a licence and licence disc which bears the dog's personal identification number.  Carrickfergus Borough Council Dog Warden impounds approximately 100 stray dogs a year. Those dogs wearing a valid licence identification disc are more likely to be reunited with their rightful owner, rather than being re-homed or unnecessarily destroyed.

When are you required to licence a dog?
Before taking possession of a dog or puppy, owners should ensure that they have already purchased a dog licence. If however, a puppy stays with its mother it must have a licence by the age of six months. If your dog dies and you have a valid licence for it, it is possible to transfer that licence should you obtain another dog (within 30 days).

Is a dog licence transferable from one person, or one Council District, to another?
No.

Steps to prevent Dog Fouling (Council Service)

Department
Environmental Services

Click Here for Dog Fouling leaflet (1)

Click Here for Dog Fouling leaflet (2)

Click here to file a dog fouling complaint online.

Description
It is an offence under the Dog Fouling (Prescription of Places) Regulations (NI)1995 for " a person in charge of a dog to permit the dog to deposit its excretement in any place"
DOG FOULING - MAXIMUM FINE £500

Preventing your dog from fouling a public area will make Carrickfergus Borough a much more pleasant and safer place for all its residents.

Contact: Environmental Health or call: 028 9335 8000

Contact us:
Environmental Services Department
Carrickfergus Borough Council
Museum & Civic Centre
11 Antrim Street
Carrrickfergus 
BT38 7DG

T: +44 (0) 28 9335 8000
F: +44 (0) 28 9336 9313
E: sec2.envhealth@carrickfergus.org