New ownership rules have been introduced to protect public safety following several attacks by XL Bully type dogs.
Since 1 October 2024 it is illegal to import, breed, rehome or resell an XL Bully type dog.
Owners who wished to keep their XL Bully type dog needed to apply to their Local Authority for a Certificate of Exemption before 1 February 2025. This deadline has now passed.
Identifying an XL Bully Dog
The XL Bully type is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type. The XL Bully type is typically larger (both in terms of height and body shape) and more muscular than other American Bully breed types such as the ‘Micro’, ‘Pocket’, ‘Standard’ and ‘Classic’.
The onus is on the dog owner to identify their dog as an XL Bully for which a Certificate of Exemption is required. For additional guidelines on identifying your dog as an XL Bully, please click here.
XL Bully type dog owners living abroad
There is scope to facilitate owners of dogs who have been resident in Ireland previously, who are now living outside of Ireland, and who are returning to become resident in Ireland, to obtain a Certificate of Exemption provided they can provide documentary evidence that they were the owner of the dog before 1 October 2024.
This certificate is unique to each dog and its owner, specifying details of the dog’s licence, microchip, neutering, age and description. It will also feature the owner’s details.
Please contact us if you require further information on this using our Contact Information below.
Further information in respect of the ban on XL Bully dogs is available on gov.ie.
Contact Information
Veterinary Services,
Limerick City and County Council,
Dooradoyle Road,
Dooradoyle,
Limerick
V94 WV78