Surge in applications for XL bully certs ahead of Saturday's deadline

XL bully owners have been warned that from Saturday, any such dog without the required paperwork, or not in the system awaiting approval, cannot be rehomed and will be destroyed.

There has been a surge in applications for special certs for XL bully dogs ahead of this weekend’s deadline set by new regulations which were introduced months after a fatal dog attack.

At least 100 'certificates of exemption', which allows people to keep their dog until the end of its natural life, have already been granted by local authorities surveyed by the Irish Examiner.