Clare recorded the highest rate of physical injuries resulting from dog attacks nationwide in 2022.
The Department of Rural and Community Developments latest Local Authority Dog Control Statistics Report shows that this county also dealt with the highest amount of surrender requests last year.
A total of 64 incidents of aggressive dog behaviour were reported in Clare last year, the figure being the third highest in the country, behind Cork and Dublin.
However the 49 people who suffered injuries or damages to their clothing in dog attacks here was the highest amount on record nationwide.
Nationally there was a 24% increase in incidents of livestock worrying, with nine of these incidents reported in Clare, all of which involved sheep.
Pounds in Clare were also busy in 2022, with a total of 472 dogs entering the county’s institutions over the year including 219 strays, 226 by surrender request, while a further 27 were seized.
By the end of the year, 46% of this cohort were rehomed or reclaimed, 48% were transferred to animal welfare centres, while 24 were euthanized.
Additionally 10 Greyhounds were surrendered in Clare last year, all of which were successfully transferred to animal welfare groups.
Clare County Council collected a total of €79,000 in dog control income in 2022, the vast majority coming from the issuing of 3,434 new dog licences, while a further €400 was raised from the payment of just five on the spot fines.
However the local authority spent a total of €242,831 on dog control measures in the same timeframe and ultimately operated at a deficit of €143,000.
