Time is Running Out: XL Bully Dog Owners Must Obtain Exemption Certificates Before 31 December 2024

Owners of XL Bully type dogs are at risk of having their dog seized if they fail to apply for an Exemption Certificate from Ards and North Down Borough Council before the 31 December 2024 deadline.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has introduced new legal safeguards to reduce the potential for an attack by an XL Bully type dog and it will no longer be legal to own this type of dog in Northern Ireland after 31 December unless an Exemption Certificate has been obtained.

Dogs for which an Exemption Certificate has not been obtained before the end of the year could be seized.

Owners are encouraged to submit an application to the Council as soon as possible to meet the deadline. Those who apply must be registered owners and aged 16 or over with a valid dog licence in place. The dog must be microchipped, kept at the same address as the holder of the certificate and third-party public liability insurance for the dog must be in place.

For younger XL Bully type dogs, they must be microchipped before they are 8 weeks old and neutered before they are 18 months old.

Exemption Certificates will be issued once the evidence has been considered and the fee of £92.40, as required by the new legislation, has been paid.

Owners who choose not to apply for a certificate and no longer want to keep their pet should speak with their vet as they can opt to surrender their animal and receive compensation. For compensation to be payable, owners must apply to DAERA and arrange for their dog to be euthanised by 31 December 2024.

If owners are unsure whether or not their dog is an XL Bully, Council Officers can help identify them.

For more information, including a downloadable application form, visit www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/xl-bully-dogs. Alternatively, email net.admin@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or telephone 0300 013 3333 (Ext. 40408).