DLR dogfight over XL bully ban

This month’s meeting of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council went to the dogs – literally.

On February 1, it will become illegal for people to own an XL bully without a specific certificate from their local authority.

The legislation will make it illegal to own an XL Bully unless the owner has a Certificate of Exemption – which will compel owners of the breed to possess a licence for the dog and that the dog is microchipped and neutered.

In this instance, the licence is distributed by the local authority.

XL bullies without the relevant certification will be put to sleep by local authorities.

The ban follows September 2024’s nationwide ban on importing, breeding and rehoming the dog breed following a number of high-profile attacks in both Ireland and the UK.

The January 13 meeting heard from a number of councillors who attempted to seek a reprieve for local owners in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority area.

The motion was brought forward by Fianna Fáil’s Tom Murphy, who asked if DLR could hold off on implementing the mandate until the council itself received a scientific report on the issue.

Murphy proposed that DLR would allow the breed to be rehomed or sent to rescue organisations if they are found to be of a “sound temperament” instead of the new system whereupon an XL bully that enters the pound before February 1 will be returned to its owner if it is reclaimed within five days, or put to sleep if not reclaimed.

Speaking at the meeting, Fine Gael’s Maurice Dockrell said “I am quite dissatisfied” with the answer received from management about what constitutes a restricted breed in the context of the ban, saying the approach was “slapdash.”

“I don’t want to be too insulting about it but I asked for a report and asked for evidence with the report and I just got a recycled answer of what the law is.”

“I would like to endorse responsible dog ownership, which I think is important,” he said.

Dockrell, who first brought the motion forward, said that the criteria of what qualifies for a restricted dog breed are too broad, especially in the context of the XL bully.

Despite the last-minute intervention from the councillors, DLR will fall into line with other local authority areas when the ban comes into force on February 1.

Paul Kennedy, manager of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown council noted that the number of XL Bully dogs coming into pounds are “quite high” in relation to other dog breeds coming in, a situation which he said “needs to be looked at.”

“That’s the same with every pound across the country at the moment,” he noted.

The law was introduced by former Fine Gael Minister Heather Humphreys, who said the regulations are being brought into place “in the interest of public safety.”

“I am concerned that if we do not take action now, the number of these dogs in the country will grow and my fear is that these attacks will become more frequent,” she said.

“While I know not everybody will agree with the ban, my ultimate priority is to protect public safety.

“For existing owners of XL Bully Dogs, provided they take the necessary steps and obtain a Certificate of Exemption, they will be permitted to keep their dog until the end of its natural life.”

The ISPCA expressed concerns about the law when it was announced last year, saying that is is “deeply worrying.2

July 2024 statistics from the ISCPA demonstrated that a total of 211 dogs in their care currently waiting for responsible new homes, with 68 dogs are restricted breeds with 28 potentially falling under the definition of an XL Bully.

Dr Cyril Sullivan said “bans on specific breeds that have been in place in the UK for over 30 years, simply have not worked.”

“The solution to this issue is much more complex than simply banning the breed, which won’t address the issue of dog attacks.  We are calling on the Minister to ensure that enforcement of the current dog control legislation is adequately resourced, and that the potential fall-out of this measure on animal welfare charities such as the ISPCA, is also addressed well in advance of any ban.”

“The ISPCA can’t turn our back on any dog that needs to be rescued, regardless of its breed, and confining a dog to a kennel environment for the rest of its life, or euthanising a healthy dog, is just not an option”.

Sullivan warned of a risk of dog abandonment of the breed once the ban is implemented.

“The ISPCA is always advocating for responsible dog ownership,” Sullivan said, an ethos echoed by the meeting of DLR also heard the same thing).

However, he said the government of the day should be looking at stricter controls and stronger enforcement of the dog control legislation already in place.

“The message is simple, if you own a dog, you must be a responsible dog owner, or face prosecution.”