HomeAnimal welfare
From April 2012, under the Welfare of Animals (NI) Act 2011, we are responsible for ensuring the welfare of non-farmed animals in the Belfast City Council area. Non-farmed animals are domestic pets of any vertebrate species as well as horses and donkeys.These responsibilities have been passed to local councils by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and the councils have worked together to appoint five animal welfare officers to enforce the legislation across Northern Ireland.
We have one dedicated officer in Belfast.
Animal welfare officers have statutory enforcement powers and can take actions to improve the welfare of non-farmed animals including:
- providing advice
- issuing improvement notices
- taking animals into their possession
- initiating prosecution action.
Report an animal welfare issue
During normal working hours contact the Animal Welfare Officer on 028 9027 0431 or email envhealth@belfastcity.gov.uk.If you need to report an issue outside normal working hours, at the weekend or on bank holidays please call 07824 994490.
Welfare of farmed animals
Welfare complaints about farmed animals (animals bred or kept for the production of food, wool or skin or other farming purposes) should be referred to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).Call DARD on 0300 200 7840 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) or out-of-hours contact a local private veterinary practice or PSNI who will, as necessary, refer the welfare complaint to the relevant on-call officer.
