Ireland now has one of the highest levels of pet ownership in the EU, with 60 per cent of households having a dog or a cat. It is estimated there are 700,000 dog-owners and some 600,000 cat-owners in the State.
An indication of the special place pets have in Irish households was the setting-up earlier this year of a "pet loss service" for the many who suffer grief at the death of their pets. It was the idea of the Irish Organisation for Pets and People (Peata), which launched it at a gathering in Our Lady's Hospice, Harold's Cross, Dublin.
It is argued that the well-being of Irish pets and many other animals has been protected by the long-established Irish quarantine system, which precludes the free movement of companion animals from mainland Europe into the State.
This undoubtedly served to maintain national canine and feline numbers free from a number of important diseases, such as rabies, which are prevalent in other European states, according to Ms Meta Osborne, president of the Irish Veterinary Association. Movement of companion animals between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain is unrestricted in either direction. "This system has thus, one must argue, worked effectively," she said.
However, apparent success notwithstanding, the quarantine system is facing possible abolition in the near future as part of an EU-wide policy on the free movement of animals. The UK government last week announced its intention to ease its regulations on movement of pets, though the changes might not come until 2000.
The belief is that advances in veterinary diagnostics - most notably in the study of interactions between antigens and antibodies in animal immune systems, known as serology - and in drug treatments make the existing six-month quarantine period unnecessary.
Opponents of quarantine say it is expensive for pet-owners and the law is arguably contrary to the welfare of the animals, and in any case is scientifically flawed in terms of its ability to preclude disease-carrying animals from entering the State.
The IVA, which represents about 1,000 vets working in practice, industry, research and local authorities, is nonetheless concerned about plans to liberalise the movement of companion animals into the Republic. Ms Osborne says while it accepts change in the quarantine system is desirable, it is the degree and nature of such change which gives rise to concern.
The association has questioned what measures will be taken to preclude the entry of important non-rabies diseases into Ireland. These include very debilitating infectious ailments such as leishmania, heartworm, babesia and hydatidosis - the latter may also pose a risk to humans.
It has been the experience of other states, notably Norway and Sweden, that the abolition of quarantine restrictions has resulted in a considerable increase - 600 per cent in their case - in inter-state animal movements. Ms Osborne asked: "Can the State veterinary facilities cope with such an increase?"
Questions also arise about the likelihood of the introduction of new disease "vectors" to the Irish scene, such as exotic flies, ticks and other insects, not to mention other parasites now alien to here.
In addition, it is clear quarantine deters an increase in dog and cat numbers. Already, some 25,000 unwanted dogs are destroyed in Ireland every year. Easing quarantine unduly could exacerbate this situation, she said.
The IVA stressed it supports moves to improve the efficacy of the quarantine system but said improvement must be based on fundamental principles of veterinary diagnostics, in response to disease trends among animal groups and appropriate to animal disease prevention.