Good uptake in Laois of XL Bully social welfare neutering scheme

A free neutering scheme was launched for the owners of tightly regulated XL Bully breed of dog, according to the Laois Society of Protection of Cruelty to Animals.

The Laois SPCA launched the XL Bully neutering scheme for a month at the start of 2025 ahead of the introduction of strict new rules around the ownership of the controversial bulldog mix breed.

The scheme, which is open for people on social welfare payments until January 31 this year, covers 100% of the neutering costs and microchipping costs ahead of the XL Bully restrictions in Ireland.

From 1 February 2025, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully dog unless you have a Certificate of Exemption in Ireland.  By law, XL Bully owners must get their dog neutered and microchipped with a Certificate of Exemption.

Geraldine Lanagan from Laois SCPCA spoke about the response from the public.

"There has been a good uptake of the scheme and we had a good bit of interest in it last week but things have eased off this week," she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"There was a couple of people for different reasons dropped out of the scheme so we have a couple more spaces that became available," Ms Lanagan added.

After being certified Ms Lanagan advised owners to keep your papers on you when out walking your bully to have proof that your dog is neutered and proved with a Certficate of Exemption. 

The certificate means an owner can keep an XL Bully at a particular location until the end of its natural life.

The Department of Rural and Community Development said regulations introduced on October 1 prohibit the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of the dogs.

It said the new ownership rules were introduced to protect public safety following a numberof attacks by the dogs. Similar measures have recently been announced in both the UK and Northern Ireland.

One incident for example occurred on September 2024 when a Limerick woman was killed in an XL Bully attack.

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If you break the rules of the XL Bully ban, you could be:

• Fined up to €2,500
• Imprisoned for up to 3 months
• Both fined and imprisoned
• If you don’t have a Certificate of Exemption for your XL Bully dog by 1 February 2025, your dog can be seized and put down.

The Laois SPCA scheme was supported by the Department of Agriculture.

As a cross of restricted breeds, XL Bully type dogs are subject to the existing additional controls.

This means when in a public place, these dogs must be securely muzzled and kept on a strong chain or leash (maximum 2 metres in length) by a person over 16 years of age who is capable of controlling the dog.