A 12-month-old baby girl has undergone major surgery after she was mauled by an XL Bully dog in Co. Kerry at the weekend.
The horror attack took place in the Lixnaw area of the county on Saturday evening, August 17.
The attack comes just one month after Minister Heather Humphreys TD announced a ban on XL Bully dogs.
From October 1, new regulations will prohibit the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of XL Bullies.
From February 1, 2025, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully without a ‘Certificate of Exemption’.
Following consultation with the chairperson of the Stakeholder Group on Dog Control, Retired Deputy Garda Commissioner John Twomey, Minister Humphreys has announced the ban in order to protect public safety.
The Minister is announcing the ban in the interest of public safety following a number of recent horrific attacks by XL Bullies, which included the death of a young woman, Nicole Morey, in Limerick.
Commenting on her decision, Minister Humphreys stated:“I am bringing in regulations to ban the breeding, sale, rehoming and import of XL Bully dogs from 1st October 2024.
“These new regulations will ensure that, from October, nobody in the State can take ownership of these dangerous dogs and that it will be illegal to breed, sell, import, rehome, exchange, gift or abandon XL Bully dogs.
“Secondly, I will be bringing in a system of certification for existing owners of XL Bully dogs. Over the period 1st October 2024 to 1st February 2025 all existing XL Bully owners will have to apply for a Certificate of Exemption.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)