Owners of XL bully dogs have until midnight on New Year’s Eve to apply for an exemption certificate before the animals are banned.
Owners who wish to keep their dog will be required to get a certificate, in line with laws in the rest of the UK.
Those certificates are only available to dogs which are registered, a requirement which led to the number of registered XL bully dogs in Northern Ireland doubling between July and August.
The restrictions are aimed at safeguarding people, livestock or any other animal from attacks by XL bully dogs.
The UK government published guidance to help identify XL bullies, which are not recognised as a specific breed. [Defra.gov.uk]
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said a significant number of the licensed population of XL bullies in Northern Ireland were still to be exempted.
“Owners should know that come January, their dog is at risk of being seized and they may face court action,” he said.
“No one wants to lose their dog, that is why we have made the application process as simple as possible.
“I am urging anyone with an XL bully to obtain their application immediately before time runs out.”
Carla adopted Reggie in June from Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary [BBC]
XL bully Reggie is one of the dogs on the register and is adored by his owner Carla.
She adopted him in June from Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary.
“He’s approximately three years old and he now falls into the category of needing an exemption certificate because he’s an XL bully-type breed,” she said.
She used her local council’s website to download an application form and got help from the Dogs Trust to complete it.
“All you had to prove was your Veterinary Confirmation of Neutering. It’s the one that the vet will give a wee stamp to and you put it in with your form and it’s really simple.
“It just comes out then in the post.”
The completion of the form ahead of the deadline meant Reggie could now legally be kept.
As well as being registered, the dogs must be microchipped, licenced and have third-party insurance in order for their owners to get an exemption certificate.
The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said that while dogs needed to be neutered, this could be completed after an application for an exemption had been made.
Charities have spoken of their concern that the ban could lead to healthy dogs being destroyed.
