DEAR EDITOR

Irish sheep farmers know the distress and financial losses caused by dog attacks on livestock.

A compulsory national dog DNA database would help identify dogs responsible and hold their owners accountable.

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But its benefits would extend far beyond protecting sheep.

The current pre-legislative process for the Dog Breeding Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2026 provides a timely opportunity to demand this change.

While farming organisations and several independent politicians have repeatedly called for a compulsory national dog DNA database, the present debate on the dog breeding industry is too good an opportunity for sheep farmers to pass up.

Without a DNA database, the approximately 45,000 people who adopt, purchase or otherwise acquire a dog each year have no reliable way of knowing their new family member’s genetic coefficient of inbreeding.

This is a material fact affecting inherited disease risks and animal welfare.

There is no reason to justify consumers being denied access to this information before purchase or adoption.

Over the past decade, Ireland’s commercial puppy-farming industry has reportedly produced around 100,000 puppies annually.

Concerns about inbreeding and the effectiveness of oversight make independent, verifiable genetic information – coupled to microchip registration – increasingly important.

Mandatory DNA profiling, linked to microchip identification and appropriate genetic testing, could help trace livestock attacks, expose irresponsible breeding practices, improve animal welfare and give responsible breeders a means of demonstrating their standards. It could also give buyers greater confidence in the dogs they acquire.

This measure alone would significantly reduce local authority inspection time and costs.

Sheep farmers have a direct interest in this reform.

They should urge their representative organisations and public representatives to seek mandatory DNA certification for every dog in Ireland while the 2026 bill is under consideration.

This is an opportunity to protect livestock, consumers and children from dog bite injuries.