457 dogs were put down by the Limerick pound last year when local authority dog wardens dealt with 861 stray and unwanted dogs.
Only 42 were reclaimed and 362 rehomed.
Limerick local authorities Veterinary Officer John McCarthy said: ” Traditionally we deal with a high number of stray and unwanted dogs. The law requires that dogs are kept for five days to allow the owners the opportunity of reclaiming them.
“Some are too sick or have a history of aggressive behaviour and are unsuitable for re-homing. Dogs are put to sleep by injection by a veterinary surgeon. We have noticed a massive increase in domestic dogs handed into the pound because people can no longer afford them or are emigrating. These would make very suitable pets,”he said.
Kilfinane Animal Welfare Sanctuary Manager Marie Quirke said that Ireland has a massive problem with the overbreeding of dogs.
“It’s completely out of hand. We get 10 to 20 calls a day about stray dogs. We urge people to rescue dogs and get them neutered. We have a no-kill policy unless the dog is extremely sick,” she said.
New dog breeding controls for Limerick were introduced in 2012 whereby owners of premises where six or more breeding bitches are kept are required to apply to the council for registration. A total of 23 breeding houses were inspected and registered on foot of the applications received.
Meanwhile, 123 stray horses were seized and impounded in 2012 with 12 reclaimed by their owners.
The figures were released as part of the Limerick City and County Annual Report 2012.
The Limerick Pound in Mungret is open to the public from 9.30 to 11am Monday to Friday and the Limerick Animal Welfare is open from 11am to 3pm Monday to Saturday.
