COUNTY VIEW: For XL bullies, it’s the long sleep

Stringent regulations against the ownership and control of dangerous dog breeds were introduced last year by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The final impetus for the legislation came following the horrific death of Nicole Morey in Limerick. The young woman was mauled to death by one of her dogs, an XL bully, as she returned to her home after an evening out to celebrate her 23rd birthday.
Her death shocked the nation, but the incident was but one in a spate of savage assaults by ‘restricted breed’ dogs in recent years. In all, over 300 people a year have been hospitalised with distressing injuries caused by dog attacks.
It was little wonder then that there was widespread support for the regulations introduced by then Minister Heather Humphreys. Since October 1, it has been illegal to breed, sell, rehome or import XL bully dogs. From February 1, owning an XL bully-type dog will be prohibited unless the owner has secured a certificate of exemption. After that date, unregistered dogs will be euthanised. Dog owners who miss the deadline will no longer be entitled to apply for a certificate. Any banned dog, if discovered by the dog warden, will be put to sleep.
Needless to say, dog owners and dog charities, are not taking the legislation lying down. Six animal welfare charities have initiated High Court action, due for hearing this week, intended to stall the impending ban on their rehoming or exporting the XL bully dogs in their care. The charities include such rescue bodies as Dog Angels Ireland, Working Animal Guardians and My Lovely Horse, but a major fundraising campaign will be required to finance what is certain to be an expensive legal journey to a very uncertain destination.
Whether XL bully dog owners will prove to be compliant with the regulations is also open to question. Up to last week, fewer than 150 applications had been made to local councils for the required certificates of exemption, even though official estimates are that the actual figure for ownership is in the thousands.
On the other hand, the authorities are leaving little room for doubt about their intention to apply the letter of the law. This week, a woman in Co Meath was ordered to vacate her property when she refused to remove two XL bullies from her rented home at the orders of her landlord, Túath Housing Association. The woman had pleaded that the dogs had been given as gifts to her two children, aged seven and five.
The XL bullies are not without political advocates, however. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council recently hosted an impassioned debate in which a number of councillors sought a reprieve for the dogs impounded by the council, pending the preparation of a more detailed report into aspects of the regulations.
One councillor sought a stay for those dogs ‘found to be of sound temperament’, while a colleague asked for a postponement of the policy until ‘a report is presented producing evidence that restricted breeds are equipped with a unique jaw structure, or biting evidence that would differentiate them from other breeds’.
The latter then went on to ask for scientific evidence ‘that certain dogs bite more severely than others or have a greater propensity to bite or inflict injury than others’.
The appeals, alas, fell on deaf ears, with the council management confirming that ‘after February 1st, any XL bully that does not have a valid certificate of exemption will be put to sleep’.

•  Guidance and support for owners in preparation for the XL bully ban is available at www.ispca.ie/xl-bully-advice.