XL Bully dogs are to be banned in Ireland.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys is set to announce plans today to outlaw the breeding, importing, selling or rehoming of the breed from October this year.
It follows recent serious incidents involving dog attacks, with a source saying Minister Humphreys wants to send a clear message that the XL Bully breed is dangerous.
23-year-old Nicole Morey was killed in an attack by an XL Bully in Ballyneety in Limerick last month.
In the aftermath, the Government committed to assessing if such dangerous breeds should be allowed, with a ban set to come in from October 1st.
Current owners of XL Bully dogs will be subject to strict new rules from next February, with special certificates needed to ensure the dogs are neutered and microchipped.
The new rules are also set to bring Ireland into line with rules in Northern Ireland.
The move will bring Ireland into line with rules in Northern Ireland, and owners who break the rules could be fined, jailed for up to three months or both, if they don't have the correct documents.
