Minister was asked to consider making ban on XL Bully dogs 'temporary'
A ban on XL Bully dogs is currently being implemented following several serious attacks, including one that killed 23-year-old Limerick woman Nicole Morey last July
Heather Humphrey’s Department was asked to consider making a ban on XL Bully dogs “temporary” to assess how it could work.
New documents released under Freedom of Information (FOI) to Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan also show animal rights groups raised significant concerns about whether the ban would be effective.
A ban on XL Bully dogs is currently being implemented following several serious attacks, including one that killed 23-year-old Limerick woman Nicole Morey last July.
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The first phase of the ban was introduced last month and prohibits the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of the breed.
From February 1, 2025, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully type dog without a “Certificate of Exemption”.
Minutes of meetings released under FOI show staff in the Department of Rural and Community Affairs met several times with various animal rights groups at a “Dog Control Stakeholders Group” meeting on March 24 in the Department of Rural and Community Affairs.
In a meeting on March 24, the chair “acknowledged the common goal of all members, even if different views on some aspects of policy and legislation”.
The group was said to “briefly discuss” the effectiveness of the current licensing and microchipping system and the fact that a “significant” number of dogs are unlicensed.
There was also a discussion on the possible operation of “backyard breeders”.
On June 11, Minister Humphreys announced in the Seanad that she intended to ban XL Bully dogs.
Two weeks later, on June 26, another stakeholder group meeting was held, and significant reservations were raised.
This included concerns that a ban “would not work and would make the existing situation worse unless resources were provided”.
It was also stated that the “ban doesn't work in the long term” and that there is a “need for alternative approaches.”
People called for any restrictions to be introduced “on a temporary basis” and then the “impact/effectiveness” of this could be evaluated.
It was also said there was “insufficient data on[the] number of dogs and serious incidents in Ireland” and that dog pounds were operating “at maximum capacity already”.
Issues with getting insurance for the animals was also raised, with the group told that it was not possible to get third-party insurance for restricted breeds.
On July 12, the Irish Mirror reported that XL Bully Dogs would be banned in two phases.
Ms Boylan told the Irish Mirror that given the fact the announcement was made so quickly after the stakeholder meeting, she believes the “Minister had already made up her mind on a ban regardless of the advice of the working group”.
She said: “A comprehensive list of concerns were outlined by the experts, many of which we are already seeing manifest now, a mere four months after the ban was announced.
“Local shelters are caving under the pressure of trying to rehome the number of dogs that are being surrendered and healthy dogs are being euthanized despite that being contrary to the policies of pounds.
“The tragedy of all this is that the ban will not address the key issues of dog welfare in Ireland. We need much tighter restrictions on the breeding of dogs with a zero tolerance approach to bad breeders, whether they are backstreet breeders or registered puppy farms.”
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