OVER ONE IN ten dog owners in Ireland are struggling to pay for food for their pets, while 42% said they have difficulty paying for vet costs.

The new findings on how the cost of living is impacting pet owners were released today in new research carried out by Dogs Trust Ireland, which they said is first dog census in the country.

Dogs Trust, who surveyed over 26,000 people last year for the project, is an animal welfare charity who take in and rehome dogs from local authority dog pounds all over Ireland.

The charity highlighted that so far in 2025, Dogs Trust has been contacted by over 2,000 dog owners seeking to surrender their dogs into their care.

Speaking to The Journal, a spokesperson for the charity said the figure is “far too high”.

“We currently have over 206 dogs in our care, and rescues all over Ireland, just like us, are being pushed to the breaking point,” it added.

As well as being surrendered, Dogs Trust said that dogs are also being abandoned at “an alarming rate”.

The census suggests that as well as vet and food prices, the major costs challenging dog owners include pet-sitting or kennels, grooming, pet insurance and training.

Census results

Dog owners rated irresponsible ownership and poor breeding practices as the most pressing welfare issues in Ireland.

However, despite this concern, just two in five people felt they would be able to tell the difference between a licensed and an illegal breeder.

The rescue centre said that these findings highlight the ongoing need for advocacy and education around responsible dog ownership and breeding.

28% of dog owners surveyed said they adopted their dog from a rescue, while 23% said they bought theirs from a registered breeder.

The report also found that 79% of dog owners said they carried out research before getting their pet, but over one in five didn’t do any research.

In 2024, 81% of dog owners said that dog owners should have the right to have a pet in rental accommodation.

The report also included information on the most popular dog breeds in the country.

Jack Russells (10%), Labradors (8%) and Collies (7%) are the top three most popular breeds to have as pets.

Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers and Bichon Frises were also popular choices.

The census also revealed the ten most popular dog names in the country, with Bella taking the top spot.

Most popular dog names in 2024:

1. Bella
2. Daisy
3. Bailey
4. Luna
5. Charlie
6. Millie
7. Lola
8. Buddy
9. Alfie
10. Poppy

The 2025 dog census was launched today and can be participated in online.