Government issues advice to owners of XL Bully dogs ahead of ban

From February 1, 2025, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully-type dog without a certificate of exemption issued by the local authority in which the dog resides. File photo

The Government has issued advice to owners of XL Bully dogs ahead of new regulations restricting their ownership to take effect from next week.

The restrictions, set to be introduced after that particular breed was responsible for a number of recent fatal and serious attacks, come as the Government recently warned the number of such dogs will grow if action is not taken now.

However, in the Dáil last week, an opposition TD said the ban was “too extreme” and is causing “panic and mayhem within dog rescue groups”. From Tuesday October 1, it will be prohibited to import, breed, sell or re-home XL Bully-type dogs.

And then, from February 1, 2025, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully-type dog without a certificate of exemption issued by the local authority in which the dog resides.

In its advice, the Government said the certificate of exemption will allow a person to keep the dog until the end of its natural life.

Applicants will need to provide a copy of a valid dog licence, copy of a microchipping cert for the dog, a copy of veterinary confirmation of its neutering status, photographic proof of identity and proof of address.

The guidance states dogs will need to be neutered by a registered veterinary practitioner to have the exemption granted.

In defining an XL Bully, the Government said it is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type, but larger than typical dogs of this breed and more muscular. It said that it is an owner’s responsibility to determine if their dog is covered by the ban.

It added: “If an application for a Certificate of Exemption is refused for any reason, the owner will be notified in writing by their local authority. Such owners may re-apply, addressing the reasons for refusal.

“If further applications are refused, and a certificate of exemption is not in place before February 1st 2025, owners may be required to surrender their dog to the Local Authority Dog Warden.

“The seizure and detention of any dogs may involve both the Dog Warden and An Garda Síochána.” 

In the Dáil last week, the issue was raised by Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Bay South, Chris Andrews, who said there were “much more humane ways to deal with this”.

“Thousands of restricted dogs could be killed as a result of this ban because XLs are not a breed, they are a type of dog that is a variety of breeds,” Mr Andrews said.

He said "arbitrary" decisions would be made on which dogs be killed, and called for an amnesty and a time extension so these dogs “can live out their natural lives”.

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In response, Minister of State Thomas Byrne said the ban was being introduced in the interests of public safety. “The XL bully was responsible for a number of attacks and killings in this country,” he said.

“If the Government does not take action now, the number of these dogs will grow. The fear, which I think is well founded, is that these attacks will become more frequent. 

"It is the Government's strong view that Ireland should not be out of step with neighbouring jurisdictions in Northern Ireland and the UK on this matter.”