Northern Ireland

XL Bully owners urged to prepare for new restrictions in place from next month

The new rules, which will be in place from July 5, are opposed by animal welfare groups

The dogs were seized by police after being contained in a room
Owning an XL Bully will remain legal but it will be forbidden to sell, gift, exchange or breed from these dogs (Jacob King/PA)
By Mark Robinson

Owners of XL Bully dogs in Northern Ireland are being urged to prepare for new safeguards due to come into force next month.

They will be required to muzzle and place their dogs on leads when in public from July 5.

Owning an XL Bully will remain legal but it will be forbidden to sell, gift, exchange or breed from these dogs.

Those in breach of the new safeguards will face up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000.

Brian Dooher, Chief Veterinary Officer, said he would “urge owners to read the guidance available”, which can be found on the NI Direct website.

He added that it would “enable them to take action in advance such as muzzle training their dog, walking on a lead and ensuring it has a valid dog licence”.

Legislation was introduced in England and Wales late last year after the government said the breed had been “disproportionately involved” in dog-related deaths.

Earlier this month, a young woman was attacked and killed by an XL Bully dog at the front of a house in Ballyneety, Co Limerick.

No breed of dog is banned in the Republic. However, some, including German Shepherds and Rottweilers are restricted.

On Sunday, a man as rushed to hospital after being attacked by a dog, understood to be a Rottweiler, in Co Donegal.

Last month, figures revealed to a Stormont committee showed that the XL Bully breed was involved in 48 of the 1,359 (3.5%) dog attacks across Northern Ireland in 2023/24.

All dogs in Northern Ireland are already required to be microchipped and licensed from eight weeks old.

XL Bully owners are also advised to prepare for the second stage of the breed-specific rules, which are due to come into force from December 31.

They will be required to apply and pay for an Exemption Certification or risk losing their dog.

Animal groups have criticised the effectiveness of the legislation being introduced by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

The Dog Coalition argued that breed specific legislation “has done nothing to reduce dog attacks”.

They point to the example of the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland Order), which was introduced in 1991.

“We are disappointed the minister has elected to extend this flawed approach,” they said.

“Our top priority is public safety. We need action and solutions that protect the public as well as safeguard animal welfare.

“However, banning dogs because of the way they look is not the answer.”

There was a need, they added, to “shift the focus from dogs to the owners” and promote responsible pet ownership and breeding.

They also stressed the importance of training for those enforcing the new rules “to avoid any more dogs than absolutely necessary from being caught up in this”.