A leading animal rights charity has issued a plea for people to consider rehoming XL Bully dogs currently in shelters before the legal restrictions come into force next week.
Owning an XL Bully will remain legal, but it will be forbidden to sell, gift, exchange or breed from these dogs from July 5.
This means rescue centres across the north who still have XL Bully dogs in their care will be unable to legally rehome them.
Nora Smith, chief executive of the USPCA, has said that they are now working “against the clock” as the deadline looms.
She said: “We’re in this impossible position where they can apply for an exemption and confine the dog to kennel life, and those dogs won’t do well kennel life.
“They are big, strong dogs, they’re clever dogs that need a lot of mental stimulation, and a lot of physical exercise.
“Or the other option is putting a healthy dog to sleep.”
She added that the USPCA’s counterpart in Scotland was one of the organisations faced with this “impossible” decision, which led to one dog being put to sleep.
“It was absolutely devastating, and it caused turmoil for the staff and volunteers, it is absolutely heartbreaking,” she said.
“We’re in this business to save as many animals as possible, not to put healthy dogs to sleep.”
Almost Home Animal Rescue in Moira, is one the organisations pushing to rehome Titan, a 13-month-old dog, which they believe will be classed as an XL Bully under the current legislation.
They have asked the public to share his story in efforts to find a permanent home for Titan ahead of the deadline.
In a social media post they said: “Titan was a stray from Derry/Londonderry pound .
“We had seen an appeal looking for help, at just 13 months old he’s a baby, and although the pound had tried, they were running out of time.”
They added: “Please help us by sharing his story far and wide because he deserves a chance.”
Ballymena-based The Halfway Dog House currently has two XL Bully dogs in their care and is urging people to get in touch if they can rehome two-year-old Tallula and five-year-old Charlie.
The legislation also means that owners of XL Bully dogs will be required to muzzle and place their dogs on leads when in public.
Those in breach of the new safeguards will face up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.