Since 2022, we've introduced the opportunity for breeders based in Northern Ireland to list their offerings on dogsy.ie, marking the inception of the first fully compliant classified ads platform for Ireland. Given the significant regulatory disparities between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, we've undertaken necessary updates to accommodate these vendors, a task further complicated by post-Brexit changes, such as alterations in pet passport requirements.
We're staunch proponents of an all-Ireland approach, aiming to facilitate seamless transactions for both buyers and sellers across the island. Upholding our commitment to trust and transparency, we endeavor to assist sellers in adhering to their legal responsibilities concerning dog advertising and sales.
Seller Categories in Northern Ireland Our platform distinguishes between two types of sellers
Hobby Breeders: Individuals maintaining 1 or 2 breeding bitches.
Licensed Breeders: Those with 3 or more breeding bitches and meeting one of the following criteria:
Supplying 3 or more litters of puppies within a 12-month period.
Advertising 3 or more litters for sale within a 12-month period.
Identifying as a business engaged in breeding or selling puppies.
Ads by Licensed Breeders on dogsy.ie will feature their breeder license number.
Advertisements by Licensed Breeders on dogsy.ie will feature their breeder license number.
Regulations on Dog Sales
In Northern Ireland According to UK law, all dogs over 8 weeks old must be microchipped, a requirement outlined in The Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012. We strongly advise all dog sellers in Northern Ireland to familiarize themselves with the relevant legislation:
Council Licensing of Dog Breeding Establishments
Dog Licensing and Microchipping
Dogsy.ie mandates microchipping for all dogs prior to their advertisement for sale.
Northern Irish Registries
In Northern Ireland, sellers can legally register their dogs with one of 22 approved databases. All dogs intended for sale must be microchipped and registered in one of these databases. Our system exclusively supports those databases affiliated with EuroPetNet. Notable options include:
Petlog
ProtectedPet
Chipworks
Alternatively, sellers may register their dogs with a different UK database or one of the approved Irish registries, such as IKC, ICC/Microdog, Animark, or Fido.
Dog Breeding Establishments
Breeders classified as Dog Breeding Establishments, as per the Welfare of Animals (Dog Breeding Establishments and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013, are required to disclose their breeder license. Advertisements will prominently display the license ID and the number of breeding bitches covered by the license.
To obtain a Dog Breeding Establishment license, applicants must submit a written request to their local council. The number of such establishments varies across different council areas in Northern Ireland.
Costs associated with Dog Breeding Establishment licenses are delineated by the Welfare of Animals (Dog Breeding Establishments and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013. Annual fees are contingent upon the number of breeding bitches kept, ranging from £150 for 10 or fewer bitches to £350 plus £50 for every additional 100 bitches for establishments with more than 200 bitches.