The Legal Eagles Fighting for Ireland's Dogs: Meet Dog Law Ireland

t Wicklow Animal Welfare, we are always heartened when we see passionate, skilled people stepping up to make a tangible difference for animals in Ireland. Today, we want to shine a spotlight on a remarkable organisation that has been doing exactly that: Dog Law Ireland, also known as DLÍ, which fittingly is also the Irish word for "law."

Who Are They?

Dog Law Ireland was founded in August 2024 by three solicitors: Hannah Unger, Carrie McMeel and Demi Mullen. doglawireland What began as a small team with a clear sense of purpose has quickly grown into one of the most important voices in animal welfare advocacy in Ireland.

Their mission is a simple but vital one. They want to make dog law accessible and easily understood by everyone, from the general public and animal rescues to An Garda Síochána, the Government, the veterinary community, and the legal profession. doglawireland Because as they rightly point out, we cannot change what we do not understand.

The Team

What strikes us most about Dog Law Ireland is the calibre and commitment of the people behind it.

Carrie McMeel is a commercial, data protection and regulatory solicitor who regularly advises dog rescues on legal issues, has drafted policies and procedures for rescues, and volunteers countless hours at Dogs Aid. She is also the proud owner of two rescue dogs, Dots and Zag.

Demi Mullen is an investment funds solicitor who co-established the Animal Law Network Ireland in 2024, a group for legal professionals and academics with an interest in animal law. She has presented on dog law at the UK Centre for Animal Law Conference and adopted her dog Klaus from Cara Rescue in 2019.

Hannah Unger is a public and regulatory law solicitor with Fieldfisher Ireland LLP, who leads a pro bono team focused on reviewing dog laws and proposing reforms. In May 2024, she published a report titled "Key Reforms to Dog Breeding in Ireland," which she presented at Leinster House, and she regularly contributes to media discussions on dog breeding reform.

Three solicitors, all with rescue dogs of their own. They are not just advocates in a professional sense; they are genuine animal lovers who have chosen to put their expertise to work for the animals who need it most.

Making a Real Difference

We are particularly delighted to see the impact Dog Law Ireland has already had in a remarkably short space of time.

One of their proudest accomplishments has been providing support to the legal team who took a judicial review against the XL Bully Regulations, a challenge which resulted in the law being made clearer and introducing better safeguards for both owners and dogs.

Beyond that, they have submitted open letters to the Minister for Rural and Community Development regarding the XL Bully Regulations, prepared a "Pawsitive Pledge" for general election candidates to sign, met with dog-loving politicians to discuss plans for private members bills, and submitted countless freedom of information requests and parliamentary questions.

Regular readers of this blog will also know that it was Dog Law Ireland who made the crucial discovery that the Irish Government had been sitting on the results of the surgical artificial insemination public consultation since September 2024, results showing 99% public support for a ban. That finding helped shine a national spotlight on an issue that demands urgent legislative action.

Why This Matters

Ireland's dog welfare legislation has long been in need of modernisation and stronger enforcement. Organisations like Dog Law Ireland are filling a critical gap, bringing legal expertise, tenacity and genuine compassion to issues that affect thousands of dogs across the country every year.

We at Wicklow Animal Welfare are proud to support and amplify their work wherever we can. If you share our admiration for what they are doing, we encourage you to visit their website, share their resources, and keep an eye on their campaigns.

👉 Find out more about Dog Law Ireland at: www.doglawireland.ie

Wicklow Animal Welfare is committed to speaking up for animals who cannot speak for themselves. Follow us for updates on this campaign and others like it.