The High Court has temporarily paused a new regulation due to come into force tomorrow that would have allowed agents for the Minister for Rural Development to seize or euthanise XL Bully dogs in the care of animal welfare organisations.
Mr Justice John Jordan granted the injunction after noting the lack of a review mechanism in the regulations over a dog warden’s assessment of the dog breed in advance of it being euthanised.
However, the judge refused an application from the charities petitioning the court to order a second injunction on the regulatory ban preventing the dog shelters and relevant bodies from re-homing the dogs from tomorrow.
It will remain in force until 27 February when a full hearing on a challenge to the new regulations for the breed will take place.
Mr Justice Jordan said he was making the ruling while being conscious of public safety and in the context of dog attacks that have left people with irreparable and even fatal injuries.
He granted the injunction after an application by six animal welfare charities.
However, the judge refused an application from the charities petitioning the court to order a second injunction on the regulatory ban preventing the dog shelters and relevant bodies from re-homing the dogs from tomorrow.
The shelters and charities with XL Bully dogs already in their facilities have until tomorrow to re-home or export them.
From last October, it became illegal to breed, sell, rehome or import the dogs.