- By Jayne McCormack
- BBC News NI political correspondent
Owners of XL bully dogs should register them with authorities
New guidelines are being launched in Northern Ireland to limit the possession of XL bully dogs, Andrew Muir has stated.
They should be muzzled and on a lead in public.
New laws may also require house owners to get an exemption certificates for his or her XL bully.
The breeding and promoting of XL bullies can be banned, the Stormont agriculture and rural affairs minister has stated.
Andrew Muir additionally stated a brand new scheme can be arrange requiring house owners to register their canine with the authorities.
The laws was introduced in as the federal government confronted strain to behave, after the breed was linked to a string of significant and generally deadly assaults.
What is an XL bully?
Defra beforehand launched tips on defining and recognising an XL bully
Speaking at Stormont on Tuesday, Mr Muir stated he had not taken the choice calmly.
“There are 140 XL Bully breed kind dogs licensed proper now, up from round 90 final October,” he added.
“Therefore it’s time to act, while numbers stay manageable and whereas we will – in the primary – monitor the place these dogs are.”
It is known the transfer would require laws that might come earlier than the meeting in summer season or early autumn.
The new scheme would require house owners of XL bullys to:
- Appropriately document and account for his or her canine, with the related authorities
- Keep their canine muzzled and on a lead always in public
The new guidelines may also make it unlawful to desert, rehome, promote, purchase, or switch possession of an XL bully.
Dogs may also need to be neutered.
Responsible house owners
The division stated if an proprietor of an XL bully doesn’t wish to comply with the measures and not needs to maintain their canine, it should be put down.
Mr Muir stated: “No proprietor can be compelled to surrender their canine or made handy over their canine.
“I’m giving the house owners of XL bully breed kind dogs the power to be accountable and compassionate house owners.”
He added that he was conscious of calls to take care of “the deed not the breed”, however needed to act in gentle of security dangers.
There are 4 breeds of dogs which are banned in Northern Ireland:
- Pit Bull terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Braziliero
The minister stated that within the 5 months since measures had been introduced in Great Britain, there was an increase of greater than 50% within the variety of XL Bully breed kind dogs licenced by councils in Northern Ireland.
“I can not rule out that the numerous uplift in XL bully dogs discovering a home right here is because of displacement from England, Scotland and Wales,” he added.
He stated he was involved that the determine is also under-reported.
The USPCA stated it was upset within the minister’s announcement.
“Promoting accountable pet possession is essential and serving to folks to know these dogs will imply that an increasing number of folks would possibly suppose twice about shopping for a canine like this to personal,” stated Chief Executive Nora Smith.
“We have already got laws at our disposal to be reply to irresponsible canine house owners, that’s what we must be focussing on, higher enforcement.”
Ms Smith added that the USPCA would proceed to work with the division to “deal with long-standing canine breeding points that exacerbate the issues related to canine assaults”.
Tara Cunningham from Causeway Dog Rescue stated the charity was “deeply upset that that is the minister’s first motion for animal welfare”.
Ms Cunningham accused Mr Muir of “doing the naked minimal after which handing it over to native authorities to implement”.
She stated she fearful it could result in many dogs being euthanised.
