Since the Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) got here into impact 32 years in the past, the charity identified that it has not been efficient in lowering canine bites and human deaths and urged the Northern Ireland authorities to take an “evidence-based approach” when coping with probably harmful dogs.
“Simply adding more breeds to the banned breed list without addressing other aspects of this complex multi-factorial issue, will not protect the public,” they mentioned, including that there’s “currently no robust research to demonstrate that XL Bully breeds or types are any more aggressive than other dogs.”
“Aggressive behaviour can be influenced by factors such as how they are bred, reared and experiences throughout their life,” the charity mentioned.
“There needs to be a stronger focus on the enforcement of legislation on those irresponsible owners and breeders.”
Earlier this 12 months Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced XL Bullies could be banned following a spate of assaults. The ban, nevertheless, will solely apply to England and Wales — not Northern Ireland — and can come into impact from February 1.
New restrictions in England and Wales got here into impact yesterday, which means XL bully dogs have to be saved on a lead and muzzled in public beneath new restrictions.
Breeding, promoting or abandoning the dogs additionally turned unlawful there yesterday, with house owners being urged to use for a certificates of exemption for present pets earlier than a January 31 deadline. As properly as neutering XL Bullies, house owners in search of an exemption should additionally pay an utility price, maintain energetic public legal responsibility insurance coverage for his or her pets and make sure the dogs are microchipped.
USPCA chief government Nora Smith has suggested house owners of XL Bully-type dogs right here to make sure their pet is registered at a vet, microchipped and licensed.
“We sincerely hope that [the Government] take an evidence-based approach to dealing with dangerous dogs in Northern Ireland. Early indications from the Scottish government are that they will not be following the BSL which is shortly being introduced to England and Wales,” she added.
Nora Smith, USPCA
Concerns have beforehand been raised by the USPCA that Northern Ireland may grow to be a “dumping ground” for these dogs because the ban won’t prolong right here.
“This could result in these dogs being placed with owners with little or no experience of the breed, which would compromise the welfare of the dog and potentially also public safety,” mentioned the charity spokesperson.
The house owners of Halfway Dog House Rescue in Ballymena mentioned they’ve been “inundated” with messages and calls from canine wardens and different rescue centres unable to accommodate them — not simply from Northern Ireland but additionally from the Republic of Ireland and England for the reason that announcement was made.
“We have been receiving up to 60 messages a day and honestly we feel so helpless because we can’t rehome them all,” they mentioned.
“Rescues are really going to struggle after this ban comes into place, thousands of innocent dogs will be killed and it’s just awful.
“It’s the biggest ban to have ever come into place because it’s so widespread for this dog type and we are just struggling to cope, and I feel terrible every time.
“We only rehome Bully breeds, and as far as I know we are the only rescue who exclusively rehome this type of dog here.”
The rescue centre presently homes 18 Bully-type dogs and places potential house owners by means of a stringent interview course of earlier than agreeing to rehome the canine.
They claimed of their expertise there was typically a scarcity of analysis in regards to the breed by potential house owners who then bodily can not deal with the animal and finally find yourself giving them away.
“These types of dogs get a bad reputation and people just don’t know how to handle them,” they mentioned.
“No dog is born bad, it is all to do with how they were raised, and we have found the biggest issue with owning an XL Bully is separation anxiety.
“These are not wee dogs for the house and taking in a rescue can be stressful, taking anywhere from three months to three years for them to properly settle, you just don’t know, but now because people haven’t raised them properly or they have been mistreated they are now being banned.
“No Bully owner would ever condone the attacks that took place, but responsibility should also have been put on the owners of each of these dogs, where they came from and their background.
“This ban is not going to solve the problem, it is not the answer, it will only keep happening if there isn’t a clamp down or heavy fines for licensing and microchipping, as well as these backyard breeders.”
The USPCA will likely be holding a free on-line workshop on January 17, which is able to create a protected area for house owners of XL Bully-type dogs to share issues and questions.
