Stormont announce restrictions on XL bully dog ownership in Northern Ireland

Stormont minister Andrew Muir has announced restrictions on ownership of XL bully dogs in Northern Ireland.

The Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister said he was bringing forward legislation requiring people to register their ownership of the breed and also to keep them on a lead and muzzled while in public.

There will also be a ban on breeding, selling, abandoning or giving away XL bully dogs in the region.

XL bullies will also have to be neutered under the planned law changes, said Mr Muir.

The minister told the Stormont Assembly that there had been a 50% spike in the number of XL bully owners applying for a dog licence in Northern Ireland since plans were announced to restrict the breed in England five months ago.

He expressed concern that Northern Ireland currently remained the only place in the UK without such restrictions and was potentially becoming a home for XL bullies displaced from Great Britain.