Why has the XL bully dog breed been making headlines recently?
The reason behind the buzz is a tragic incident where Nicole O’Donnell Morey, a 23-year-old lady, succumbed to injuries sustained from an attack by her dogs, one of which was an XL bully. The unfortunate event took place late Tuesday in Ballyneety, Co Limerick, where she was discovered lifeless by the local police. A particularly fierce dog was put down at the scene, while three others were controlled and later taken into custody by the gardaí. These three dogs are now the responsibility of the Limerick County Council dog warden service.
So, what exactly is an XL bully?
It isn’t a breed per se, but it refers to a type of bulldog distinguished by its muscular physique and chunky head. To fall under the “XL bully” category, they must stand at a minimum height of 20 inches (51cm) at the shoulder. The UK government’s webpage describes them as a “subset of the broader American bully breed. XL bullies typically have a larger size (height and body configuration) and are more muscular compared to other American bully breed types like the micro, pocket, ‘standard’, and ‘classic’”. With their potent muscular strength and forceful jaws, they can be fatal to humans. Isobel Boyd shared her distressing experience of being attacked by one such dog in The Daily Mail, describing the horrendous pain she suffered and the injuries inflicted, which left her in the hospital for 11 days.
Due to numerous attacks, restrictions were imposed on the breed in England and Wales by the UK government in late 2023. They were deemed to have played an outsized role in fatalities recorded since 2021.
What’s the current status of this breed in Ireland?
In Ireland, instead of outright bans, certain restraints are in place for 11 different dog breeds, necessitating them to be muzzled, held on a short leash and supervised by individuals older than 16 while out in public. Notably, the XL bully breed is absent from the list, even though one such dog inflicted severe injuries on 11-year-old Alejandro Mizsan in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford previous year, leading to incarceration for its owners, Niall Byrne and Karen Miller.
Since 2007, the Dublin City Council has prohibited 10 distinct dog breeds, inclusive of four bulldog types, the American Pit Bull Terrier, the English Bull Terrier, the Rottweiler, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
The possibility of a widespread ban on XL bully dogs is currently under deliberation. The Irish Government is mulling over the idea of imposing an all-encompassing prohibition to certain dog breeds, akin to the UK’s approach established in the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. The act initially focused on fighting dogs, but over the years extended to cover dangerous breeds and types such as the XL bully added the previous year.
Retired Deputy Garda Commissioner John Twomey presides over a Government-established panel in Ireland that is investigating measures to reinforce dog controls. Paul Savage, the founder of dogs.ie, highlighted that the UK ban didn’t cease fatalities, advising against a hasty decision of an overall ban on certain breeds. He asserted that in Ireland, attacks from dangerous dogs are comparatively rare and that enforcing a breed-specific ban can be challenging.