Implementation of XL Bully ban questioned in Waterford

Starting earlier this month, it is now illegal to own an XL Bully type dog without a Certificate of Exemption. 

Speaking on the reasoning for the ban, then Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, said last year: "I am bringing these regulations into force in the interest of public safety following a number of horrific attacks by XL Bully dogs.

"I am concerned that if we do not take action now, the number of these dogs in the country will grow and my fear is that these attacks will become more frequent.

"While I know not everybody will agree with the ban, my ultimate priority is to protect public safety."

With the ban now being implemented, Cllr John O’Leary queried this week if it was being implemented sufficiently in Waterford.

"How can we be sure that everybody has come to the table on this, and can there be a situation where we have XL Bully type dogs still in our district that we wouldn't be aware of?"

In response, Dawn Wallace, Senior Executive Officer with Waterford City & County Council, said: "We don’t know what we don’t know. If people have not registered a dog, we're not necessarily going to know about that unless it comes to our attention by other means."