Key Service Telephone Numbers
Dog Licensing
Dog Licensing: Information and Licence Application
All dogs, with the exception of guide dogs, must have a valid licence. A licence is valid for 12 months.
If you keep a dog without a licence you can be issued with an £80 fine.
A dog must be microchipped before a licence can be issued. Your local vet can provide more information on microchipping.
Fees and Concessions
| License | Fee |
| Normal licence | £12.50 |
| 65 years or over | First dog licence is free, £5 for each additional dog |
| Receipt of an income related benefit or a couple in receipt of income related benefit | Click here for income related benefits that qualify for a reduced licence £5 per dog |
| Sterilised/neutered dog | £5 |
| Block licence (dog breeders or kennels with three or more unsterilised female dogs) | £32 |
NB – you may be required to provide evidence in relation to concessions.
How to Apply or Renew A Dog Licence
You can apply online (see below) or by telephoning council offices on 0330 137 4024. Complete the application form and post it with the appropriate license fee to the relevant office.
Apply, Renew or register online
Contact Us
Telephone: 0330 137 4024
Email: ehealth@nmandd.org
How to Apply or Renew a Block Licence
Please see form available for download below.
XL Bully Exemption Scheme
From 1 January 2025, it is also an offence to own an XL Bully type dog without an Exemption Certificate.
If the owner of an XL Bully dog does not have an Exemption Certificate, the relevant council will seize their XL Bully dog and the owner could face court action.
XL Bully owners wanting to obtain an Exemption Certification must have made an application by 31 December 2024, as the scheme has now closed.
If you have not yet received your Exemption Certificate and you are asked for proof of exemption by a dog warden, you can simply advise of your name and address, and they will be able to confirm the status of your application.
For more information visit: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/xl-bully-dogs
XL Bully Ownership
Since restrictions came into effect on owning XL Bully dogs in other parts of the UK, there has been a significant increase in the number of XL Bully type dogs in Northern Ireland.
New safeguards are being introduced in Northern Ireland to reduce the potential for an attack by an XL Bully type dog on a member of the public, livestock, or any other animal.
For more information visit: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/xl-bully-dogs
Definition of an XL Bully Dog
In Northern Ireland, the definition used for an XL Bully type dog will be the same as the one that the UK Government set out for England and Wales, and which is also used in Scotland.
It is known as a physical conformation standard. This detailed guidance sets out descriptions of height, head, teeth, neck, forequarters, body, hindquarters, feet, tail, and coat.
The XL Bully is not officially recognised as a breed by the Kennel Club UK and due to the lack of recognition of the breed, there is no guarantee that the dogs are bred responsibly.
Potential inbreeding may exaggerate behaviours such as aggression, and the strength and size of these dogs means any attacks or bites are more likely to be serious.
Neutering an XL Bully dog
For your Exemption Certificate to remain valid, you must arrange to have your XL Bully dog neutered. Male dogs must be neutered through castration, and female dogs must be spayed.
You must use the confirmation of neutering form to let your council know your dog has been neutered. For dogs 18 months or older on 31 December 2024, evidence of neutering having occurred must be given to the relevant local council by 30 June 2025.
For dogs younger than 18 months on 31 December 2024, evidence of neutering must be given to the relevant local council by 30 June 2025, or one month after the dog reaches 18 months of age, whichever is later. If your dog is already neutered, you can fill in the XL Bully Dog Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering Form straight away and send it to us via post or email to:ehealth@nmandd.org
If you are unsure whether your dog has been neutered, you should seek advice from your vet. You may have to pay a fee for this.
Dog Breeding Establishments
As part of the Welfare of Animals (Dog breeding establishments and miscellaneous amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 anyone who owns three or more breeding bitches, or intends to breed more than three litters of puppies a year for sale, must apply to us for a dog breeding establishment licence.
A breeding establishment is defined as one or more premises, within the same area, operated by the same person and from which that person keeps three or more breeding bitches, and
- breeds three or more litters of puppies in any 12 month period
- advertises three or more litters of puppies for sale in any 12 month period
- supplies three or more litters of puppies in any 12 month period, or
- advertises a business of breeding or selling of puppies.
If you are planning to operate a dog breeding establishment within the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area you must apply to us for a licence.
How to Apply or Renew A Breeding Establishment Licence
Download an Application for Breeding Licence and post back to our Environmental Health (Dog Licensing) Teams based at Greenbank Industrial Estate or the Downshire Civic Centre.
Strays/Dogs for Rehoming
Stray dogs or dogs given up for re-homing are taken to Corran Kennels and Re-homing Centre,
40 Tobercorran Road, Downpatrick BT30 8HU.
Dogs for re-homing can be removed by the dog warden for a fee - taken at the time of removal.
| Stray | Fee |
| Own dog (if licenced) | £30 |
| Own dog (if not licenced) | £40 |
| In receipt of benefits | £10 (£15 if no valid licence) |
| OAP | £10 (£15 if no valid licence) |
Please contact us on 0330 137 4024 to arrange a time for the dog warden to remove a stray dog or your own dog.
Dog Control Contact Details
Telephone: 0330 137 4024
Email: ehealth@nmandd.org
Please note that our Dog Control Service operates from 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
An emergency out of hours Dog Control service operates from:
- Monday – Friday 5pm – 9pm
- Saturday & Sunday from 9am – 5pm
- Public Holidays from 9am – 5pm
This service is for emergency calls only e.g. serious dog attack, aggressive stray dog posing risk to the public.
Out of hours Dog Control contact number – 0739 186 1646
Useful Links
www.dogstrust.org.uk
www.petlog.org.uk
Contact Us
Telephone: 0330 137 4024
Email: ehealth@nmandd.org
Post:
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Haughey House
Unit 19, Rampart Road
Greenbank Industrial Estate
NEWRY
County Down
BT34 2QU
OR
Environmental Health - Dog Licensing
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Downshire Civic Centre
Ardglass Road
DOWNPATRICK
County Down
BT30 6GQ