DOG LICENSING

Every dog owner must have a licence for a dog.

To obtain a dog licence, you can:

Visit Ards Borough Council's Offices at 2 Church Street, Newtownards, complete a dog licence application form and submit it along with the appropriate fee to the Council staff at reception.
Complete the online application form.
Sign the appropriate section on the reverse of your dog licence renewal letter and submit it with the appropriate fee by post or in person to Ards Borough Council's Offices at 2 Church Street, Newtownards

New Dog Legislation
The rules for owning and keeping dogs are changing in Northern Ireland, as a result of new legislation (Dogs (Amendment) Act (NI) 2011). So how will the changes affect dog owners?

Dog Licences
Every dog must have a licence and this has not changed, but the cost of a dog licence is increasing in some cases from October 2011. The fees for different types of licence are given in the table below.

New Dog Licence Fees
Licence Fee Category	Cost
Any 'assistance dog' will be exempt	£0
Over 65s First Dog	£0
Over 65s Subsequent Dogs	£5
Concessionary rate for owners on Income Support and Housing Benefit	£5
Any dog which is neutered	£5
Normal licence	£12.50
Block licence (qualifying conditions apply)	£32.00

For further information contact the Borough Inspector's Office, Tel: 028 9182 4005, E: Borough Inspector