Hercules, Bert, and Hannah are stray XL bully dogs at the Dublin County Dog Shelter, and they have a mere nine days left to find new homes. If they, and other dogs like them housed at rescue facilities throughout the nation, don’t secure new owners, they’ll be put down under new legislation effective from the 1st of October. Hercules has previously been re-homed, but after it fell through, he was brought back to the shelter. Bert and Hannah have quickly become recent additions. The shelter in Newcastle is specifically looking for experienced dog owners who have no other pets and a spacious garden space, as stated by Emily Nash, the assistant manager. If these dogs were to face another unsuccessful re-homing attempt, it would likely mean the end for them.
This signifies an unprecedented step to ban a particular breed in Ireland. It appears to be a rational decision to many, given the severe and often fatal incidents involving XL bully dogs. For instance, an attack by an owner’s own XL bully just last weekend in north Co Dublin left the man injured. This breed was later euthanised. This follows the announcement of the impending ban in July, by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys. This came after a woman, Nicole Morey, was killed by her own dogs, including an XL bully, at her residence in Co Limerick. The Minister stated, “No dog’s life is worth more than human life. Ultimately that is what guided me in making this decision.” Tragically another child was severely hurt by an XL bully in Co Kerry, a month after this incident.
From the 1st of October, the importation, breeding, selling, and re-homing of XL bullies will be considered illegal. Furthermore, as of the 1st of February next year, it will be illegal to own an XL bully without a certificate of exemption. This certificate would necessitate the dog had been neutered as well as licensed and microchipped, both of which are already obligatory for all dogs. These new regulations mirror those currently in place in England, Scotland, Wales, and recently Northern Ireland. Here owners have till the end of December to acquire their certificates.
There’s been some resistance from animal rights groups to the freshly proposed laws, arguing that it should be the dog owners held accountable for mishandling, rather than blaming particular breeds. They contest that this “crowd-pleasing” approach will not enhance public safety; instead, it could lead to numerous dogs being euthanized based on their appearance, rather than their behaviour.
Pete Wedderburn, an established veterinarian based in Co Wicklow, affirms that managing dogs is a more intricate matter than focusing on a specific breed in Ireland, home to an estimated 500,000 dogs of varying sizes, forms and dispositions. On the contrary, James Madden, a fellow vet and member of the working group for dog control, believes that the stringent regulation of XL bullies can be warranted. He supports this claim with UK data, which indicates 13 out of 23 fatal dog attacks in the past three years involved XL bullies, a breed representing less than 5% of the total UK dog population.
Back in 1991, the UK enforced a ban on pit bulls and three other breeds after a series of attacks. The rise of XL bullies since then, however, suggests that breed-specific legislation isn’t effective. Brenda Fitzpatrick, from the Working Animal Guardians (Wag) rescue service, asserts that this merely redirects unofficial breeders to other types of dogs, like the cane corso, originally a dog of warfare in Rome, ultimately encouraging more hybrid breeding, as these dogs are seen as profitable entities. She witnessed it first-hand during the Covid period. Wag now urges for banning the breeding of XL bullies and all hybrid breeds. This would permit the existing XL bullies to live out their lifespan while simultaneously discouraging the creation of similar intimidating “status” dogs.
The specific differentiation criteria for XL bullies from other American bully breed types are yet to be clearly articulated at the time of penning this piece. However, as per anticipation, the classification is expected to follow UK guidelines incorporating descriptors like “a large dog with a muscular body and square head suggesting remarkable strength and power proportional to its size”. The most accurate determinant seems to be the minimum height at the withers or shoulder blades of 51cm/48cm for adult male/female dogs respectively.
Wag, a dog welfare organisation, proposes a confidential helpline for anonymous reports regarding illicit backyard breeding. Fitzpatrick, a representative of Wag, stressed the dire need for action against this long-standing abuse, calling one-time mass extermination of dogs ‘dismally horrific’. Currently, Fitzpatrick is arranging the transport of some XL bullies from Ireland to Sweden.
A Swedish rescue group, Hundar Utan Hem, has accommodated approximately 11,000 neglected Irish dogs since 2005, providing new homes for them in Sweden and Finland. In a public letter to Irish politicians, the group expressed financial hardship and distress due to the 700 dogs received annually from Ireland. The letter criticises Ireland’s hasty and ineffective prohibition targeting a specific group of dogs that lack culpability and calls for addressing the root problem instead.
Hundar Utan Hem supports breeding regulations, advocacy for responsible pet ownership, and the gradual discontinuation of potentially problem-causing breeds, calling Ireland’s current trend of impulsive breed prohibitions politically motivated, cruel, and inhumane.
Divilly, director of operations at Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption in Galway, is in accord with the condemnation of dogs bred for aggression. However, she notes the redundant nature of breed naming in this context, comparing it to the game ‘whack-a-mole’. According to her, this detracts from addressing the root causes of the issue and enforcing existing laws.
Divilly, part of the Government’s dog control stakeholder group since last March, hints at potential public misjudgment. She mentions that while breed bans are commonly perceived as easy and immediate solutions, they might lead to misplaced confidence, using the UK’s situation as a potential benchmark of this scenario. Notably, unlike the UK, Ireland has a list of 11 restricted breeds that necessitate muzzling, leashing, and adult supervision in public spaces.
Since the enforcement of the second phase of the legal restriction on XL bullies that commenced in England and Wales on February 1st of the past year, the number of reported aggressive dog incidents causing harm to people or guide dogs has increased by 9 per cent. In addition, at least seven fatal dog attacks were recorded, which included a 68-year-old lady who tragically lost her life after being assaulted by two XL bullies. The authorities in England and Wales catalogued a total of 6,392 attacks, an escalation from the 5,888 attacks recorded within the same duration in 2023. These figures were compiled by the Independent newspaper using data provided by 27 police forces.
In the animal shelter where Nash works located in Co Dublin, most of the times the backgrounds of the XL bullies are indistinct. Nash’s observation tells him that, while some XL bullies are laid-back and kind, others can be unsettled. He stipulates, “Their personalities greatly vary.”
That makes them much like humans, according to Rowan Morrey in Co Laois, who equates the question of ‘why possess an XL bully?’ to asking ‘why own a dog?’
“A few dogs do not epitomise all dogs or an entire breed,” says Morrey, who has Bear, an XL bully, who he characterises as “the deliverer of cuddles and the guardian of the common shrew, protecting them from cats in the garden.” He takes care of Bear with his spouse, Alanna J McDermott.
McDermott, an elementary school teacher, provided foster care to Bear just after the schools were closed due to Covid in March, 2020. Little did she know at the time that the pandemic would persist so long, nor anticipate that Bear would turn out to be so “wonderful” that four years later, he continues to live with them.
Without any prior interaction with dog breeds of this kind, McDermott admits that she became completely smitten with Bear. McDermott describes Bear, who was given up by an owner to a pound in Dublin, as “such a loving dog. He doesn’t comprehend that some people might perceive him as a menace.”
Despite his muzzle giving him a deceivingly threatening appearance, similar to that of the infamous Hannibal Lecter, it’s not employed to safeguard other individuals. Instead, the muzzle serves to protect her dog, Bear, from the prejudices surrounding his breed. The fear of public backlash, even an innocent misinterpretation of Bear’s actions, could fatally jeopardise her pet’s life. She is keenly aware of the heightened apprehension about such dogs, putting an end to her earlier practice of bringing Bear to school where the kids adored him and vice versa.
Once, a shocking incident occurred where a woman screeched at the dog’s owner, accusing Bear to be a threat to human life and predicting his monstrous devouring of babies. And due to the recent legislation, Bear’s guardians now have to invest in a certificate of exemption, further infuriating McDermott. Although Bear enjoys the benefit of neutering and can spend his lifetime with his owners, she laments the unnecessary euthanisation of other dogs.
McDermott goes on to criticise the pattern in decision-making, comparing it with education where England’s bad ideas are imitated. The Greystones, Co Wicklow resident Rowan Woodgates can connect with the situation, being an owner of a three-year-old tricolour XL peacemaker Goose since his puppy days. When choosing Goose as a companion for his existing Labrador/German Shepherd mix, Rowan exercised caution, clueing up on any possible associations with the notorious pit bulls.
As an experienced dog owner, Rowan proudly asserts Goose’s angelic behaviour at home and outside. Although he doesn’t have children of his own, Goose interacts wonderfully with visiting kids. He reminds that training was critical in shaping Goose’s behaviour; it was no spontaneous transformation into a lovable pet. Hence, it necessitates responsible pet ownership.
He argues that rather than punishing a whole breed of dogs for the negative actions of a few, it would be more reasonable to hold the dog owners accountable. He’s frustrated about being required to neuter his dog, Goose, by the year’s end. The cane corso, which has twice the bite force, is not forbidden. He claims, “There are no bad dogs, only bad owners.”
Dog owners on the restricted breeds list often consider their dog to be issue-free, notes Katie McCarthy, until an incident happens. She recalls the terrifying memory of her 12-year-old son getting bitten by a friendly pit bull terrier at a friend’s house. The previously docile dog turned aggressive when the boy accidently kicked a bone while they were playing in the back garden. It resulted in major surgery for her son, leaving him not only with a permanent scar on his wrist but also a lingering fear of dogs, proving to her that some breeds have an inherent attack instinct, making them unsuitable as domestic pets.
From the start of this year through July, more than 400 dog attacks were reported nationally. Attacks on people totalled 228, with 103 on livestock and 116 on other animals, including dogs, in the given period. In the previous year, 2023, there were 850 incidents recorded.
In 2022, local authorities received 791 reports of aggressive dog behaviour, which resulted in physical injuries to 308 people, which includes property damage due to the incident. This was the same year when a nine-year-old boy named Alejandro Mizsan was brutally attacked by an XL bully that had strayed into a residential neighbourhood in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
Drawing on the experiences of the USPCA beyond the border, the need for rescue centres to welcome XL bullies for rehousing is unlikely to cease after October 1st. However, Siobhan McHaffie from the USPCA informs that these dogs can’t be taken in at their Newry centre in Co Down, unless the pooch has been scheduled for euthanasia by a veterinarian.
The misunderstanding of new rules and the high cost of obligatory sterilisation, which could reach £400 (roughly €475), pose as significant issues. Vouchers for the sterilisation process may be provided as part of the Republic’s scheme, though this is yet to be confirmed. Due to the uncertainty surrounding identification, McHaffie recommends certain owners, specifically those possessing bully breed puppies, to consider applying for exemptions as a precaution. A young pup might not attain the height that categorises it as XL. Consider a nine-month-old dog named Bert – he hasn’t reached this mark yet, but the Co Dublin shelter is not risking it and is fervently working to find him a new home before the set deadline.