55 XL Bully dog owners in Cork apply for exemption ahead of impending breed ban

More than 50 XL Bully dog owners have applied for a certificate of exemption in Cork ahead of the impending breed ban this week.

At the end of December 2024, according to figures provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development, there were 235 certificates of exemption issued to XL Bully dog owners nationwide, 21 of which were issued across Cork.

However, this figure has since more than doubled, with 20 applications submitted to Cork City Council, and 35 submitted to Cork County Council, bringing the total number, to date, of applications submitted by owners across Cork to 55.

The ban, which was partially introduced last year, will see new legislation come into effect from February 1, making it illegal to own an XL Bully dog without prior registered documentation.

An XL Bully dog is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type, and is typically larger and more muscular than other American Bully breed types.

On October 1, 2024, it became illegal to import, breed, rehome, or resell an XL Bully dog, however, animal shelters and charities housing this breed were given a period of grace to rehome or export these dogs before the legislation deadline.

Speaking to The Echo, Vincent Cashman, manager of CSPCA, said that while he believes the impending ban is required, he is urging pet owners to make an application before the deadline as “nobody wants to be putting dogs down”.

“This is our first banned dog breed, it’s unfortunate, but sometimes you have to put restrictions in place,” Mr Cashman said.

“[The legislation] is necessary; you’re getting dogs that could be upwards of 12 stone, and the question is — can the owner control it?

“If they can’t control the dog, then realistically, they shouldn’t have one of them.

“The unfortunate thing with these dogs is that while the vast majority have been socialised, you have a huge percentage of them that are not properly cared for; they were born for breeding, because they were fetching quite a high price tag, and they haven’t seen the light of day.

“There probably will be an influx of them brought to shelters, but the first indications of this [ban] came out [months ago], so people have had time to get their ducks in a row.

“With the deadline now, there will be a rush of people looking for exemptions, and for the last four months we have been putting it out there that if people are unsure if their dog is an XL, they can call us.

“We can help owners as best we can but time is running out,” he added.

“It’s about awakening proper dog ownership culture in the Irish public — public safety has to be paramount.

“If people are in any way doubtful, we would ask them to make an application for a certificate anyway, because it can be cancelled afterwards if it turns out the dog is not an XL; but you cannot apply for an exemption after the deadline.

“There are three different-sized American Bullies, there is the XL Bully, the Standard Bully, and the Pocket Bully — it’s not just about height, it’s the head shape, the tail, back and feet.

“There’s a couple of things you have to go through before it can be classed as an XL.

“We urge people to make the application, if they don’t have a certificate of exemption or at least have made an application for one, unregistered dogs, or dogs that haven’t started the registration process, will be put to sleep.”