The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), formed from the merger of the ISPCA and DSPCA, has called on the Government to urgently reform animal welfare legislation. Their five-year strategy highlights the need for stronger laws banning greyhound racing and fox hunting for sport, tighter regulations on dog breeding to curb large-scale commercial operations, and a legal ban on sulky horses on public roads and horse-drawn carriages in cities. These reforms aim to close gaps in current protections and improve enforcement to better safeguard animal welfare and public safety.

The call for reform is supported by recent survey data showing strong public backing: nearly 90% favor stricter dog breeding laws, 82% support banning fox hunting, and 70% express concern over greyhound welfare. NSPCA chief executive Pat Watt emphasized the ongoing distressing cases of animal cruelty their inspectors encounter and stressed that lasting progress requires a coordinated national approach with adequate resources to prevent harm and ensure animals are properly protected across Ireland.