The Government has introduced measures to further crack down on the practice of cropping or clipping dogs' ears, which has has been illegal for a decade.
New regulations will also make it illegal to own a dog whos ears have been recently cropped, or to import one without a licence.
Those who disobey the regulations could face a fine of up to €250,000 on top of up to five years in prison. Minor infractions could result in a penalty of €5,000 or up to six months in jail.
The new measures follow a recommendation last year from the Joint Committee on Agriculture to introduce such a ban.
Cropping involves cutting off a part or all of a dog's ears. The remainder can be braced to stick straight up. The breeds which are most often subjected to the mutilation include boxers, pit bulls and dobermans.
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has condemned the "unnecessary, cruel practice that has no place in Ireland".
"This procedure causes severe pain and lifelong problems for dogs", he said in a statement, which follows the flagging of the initiative last week.
"Cropping of dogs’ ears has been illegal in Ireland since 2013. These new regulations will extend existing prohibitions on ear cropping, to protect dogs across Ireland from this unjustifiable and needless mutilation."
From next Friday, "it will be illegal for a person to be in possession, or have control, of a dog that has had all, or part, of its ears removed" after that date, 1 September, "unless the person has in their possession the necessary documentation".
These include "an import licence, a veterinary certificate or a record issued by an animal welfare charity", the statement reads.
"It will be illegal to import into Ireland a dog with cropped ears unless an import licence is granted in advance."
The sale or supply of dogs with cropped ears will also be banned.
The new regulations also limit the availability of DIY kits "which can be used to carry out this mutilation... to veterinary practitioners or their suppliers."
Owners or occupiers of land are also banned from holding "shows, competitions, sporting or cultural events" which feature dogs with cropped ear.
