Thirty-one applications in Offaly to register XL Bully dogs

THIRTY-one applications to register XL Bully dogs were received by Offaly County Council since new regulations on ownership of the animals were introduced.

Since January 31 it has been illegal to own an XL bully without a certificate of exemption from the council or evidence that an application has been made.

A report prepared for the May monthly meeting of the council said that 31 applications for registration had been received and 20 exemption certificates had been issued.

Further information was awaited on the other 11.

Because of attacks by the breed, a ban on the import, sale and rehoming of them was introduced on October 1 last year.

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A certificate is issued to existing owners once the XL bully is licensed, microchipped and neutered.

Owners without a certificate face a fine of up to €2,500 or up to three months in prison.

Owners with a certificate are permitted to keep the dog at a specific premises until the end of the animal's life.

An XL bully dog is described by the Department of Rural and Community Development as a variant of the wider American Bully breed type but is typically bigger and more muscular than American Bully dogs like the micro, pocket, standard and classic.