Addressed to:

The Minister Heather Humphreys (heather.humphreys@oireachtas.ie)  and The Dog Control Stakeholders Group.

Minister Heather Humphreys is imposing a ban similar to the UK, on XL Bullies in the Republic of Ireland. It will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog without a Certificate of Exemption. 

We are advocating and appealing for a humane, progressive and evidential based resolution to this issue.  

We are calling upon Minister Humphreys , the Irish Government and the County Councils of Ireland to bring more voices and representatives of experience to their decision making process 

 XL Bullies will continue to be dumped and subsequently killed in Irish Pounds. XL Bullies languishing in the Dogs Pounds and Rescues of Ireland must be allowed to be responsibly rehomed without an imposed time frame and without fear of confiscation or being killed by the County Councils.

Banning of one breed or dog 'type' opens the door to ban further breeds. 

The banning of one breed leads to the hybrid breeding and continued maltreatment of another breed, as evidenced in the UK and in other jurisdictions. 

 Responsible ownership and public education should be the primary focus.  Ireland has a real opportunity to implement progressive and  humane policies in relation to the dog ownership and welfare.

We are making the following recommendations:

 1. Provide a permanent amnesty to all XL Bully dogs in Dog Pounds and Rescues so that they can be effectively and responsibly assessed by experienced Rescues and Behaviourists for rehoming beyond 1st October 2024.

2. Strengthen and enforce the current Restricted Breed Law rather than imposing a BAN on any Specific Breeds. Increase the age limit from 16 years to 18 years to walk an XL Bully.

3. Mandatory neutering and spaying of the XL Bully. Provision of state funded neuter programme. 

4. Impose a blanket ban on the back-street breeding of the XL Bully.

5.Special registry of XL Bully dogs that includes the owner's details (name, address, etc)

6.Impose monetary fines / asset confiscation on people who break the Restricted Breed rules, such as owners who allow Restricted Breed off lead in Public Areas, etc.

7.Drug testing on XL Bully dogs involved in serious incidents with people. The practice of injecting steroids into and administering narcotics to Bull Breeds is common. 

8.Responsible ownership public educational campaigns and propagation- how to train the dog to wear a muzzle, restricted breeds suitable walking aids, etc.