Meath county councillor Alan Tobin has created an online storm after posting on the subject of restricted and listed dog breeds on his Facebook page yesterday evening.
Fine Gael’s Tobin, who is a dog owner, posted a picture of a sign he asked to be erected reminding owners of the regulations they must comply with if they have one of the breeds listed.
He captioned the post by saying he was “absolutely delighted” the sign had gone up.
“As a dog owner I’m absolutely delighted that signs I’ve asked for, with pictures, showing the dangerous breeds of dogs have been erected over the past week,” read the Councillor Tobin’s post.
“It still amazes me that some people think these dogs are ideal family pets.”
The dog breeds listed in the post are as follows:
The sign also warns the public that, by law, the above breeds must be leashed and muzzled at all times in public places. They also have to wear a collar clearly stating their owner’s full name and address.
Finally, the breeds mentioned must be under the control of someone over 16 years of age.
The post has sparked a massive and mainly negative online response, receiving over 77,000 shares and nearly 140,000 comments on it so far. People have also been sharing pictures of their own pets.
Disappointed to see Alan Tobin's list of restricted dog breeds this morning. Not only inaccurate but also very ignorant
— Jake Heenan (@HeenanJake) May 9, 2016
@jonathanhealy abuse Alan Tobin is getting on FB is shocking. It's not as if responsible owners wear a sign on their head in public #ntlt
— Dougal (@DougalCMK) May 9, 2016
As a researcher in dog bites in and public policy I find this post by a member of @meathcoco outrageous and damaging pic.twitter.com/hvTAxW48L5
— Páraic ÓSúilleabháin (@Paraic_O_S) May 8, 2016
@jonathanhealy If these people are as easily angered in real life they might not be ideal dog owners.
— Siobhan NicChumhaill (@Siobhan2culture) May 9, 2016
I am the proud owner of a family Doberman & German shepherd, they're so scary! 😒 Alan Tobin @loveashbourne pic.twitter.com/Ru7xYZW1nY
— Linda (@LindyMean) May 9, 2016
The Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) have labelled Councillor Tobin’s post as “hideous and inaccurate” in a statement released this afternoon.
“Councillor Tobin should stick with local issues that pertain to people instead of coming out with hideous and inaccurate comments that have little basis and that are absolutely hurtful to the many species of dog such as staffies and pit-bulls; animals who are troubled animals all because of their build and look,” said ARAN’s John Carmody.
“Mr Tobin is sadly going to rubber stamp the already inaccurate view that these animals are dangerous animals and that families across Ireland should be aware – far from it. If anything, these animals are hugely exploited by calculated people who turn them into vicious and nasty blood-thirsty creatures.”
Speaking to Newstalk this afternoon Councillor Tobin said he does not think he will take the post down.
“There’s awful lot of abuse, look you’re going to get abuse, bad language and whatever else from people,” said Tobin.
“I’ve had a lot of message, a lot of emails and things from people saying ‘I support you’. It’s important that we do actually highlight these things.
“I don’t know about taking it down. I mean, look, if you believe in something, if you believe (in) striking up a debate and this has been debated all over the country this morning.
“I’m really surprised about it.”
* We have also reached out to Councillor Tobin for a response to the reaction and await a reply at the time of posting.
READ MORE: Q&A with dog bite expert on Alan Tobin’s Facebook ‘dangerous’ breeds comments
