Baby girl 'attacked by restricted XL bully dog'
A baby girl attacked by "the family pet" believed to be the restricted XL bully dog breed, in her Kerry home, is being treated in Cork University Hospital.
The child, who had just turned one, was snatched out of her mother’s arms by the dog, according to a source.
The mother had been walking through their home holding her young daughter when the dog, described as “the family pet”, snapped and snatched the child from her mother, a source said.
The child suffered serious injuries and required extensive surgery, it is understood.
The attack happened in Lixnaw, north Kerry on Saturday evening.
The family is believed to be local to Lixnaw.
The dog was destroyed by local veterinary services following the attack.
A garda spokesperson told the Irish Examiner that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Last month, the Government confirmed it was to ban XL bully dogs starting this October.
The two-phase ban will begin on October 1 when breeding, rehoming, reselling and importing XL bullys will be outlawed.
A full ban on owning one of the dogs, without a certificate of exemption, will come into effect on February 1.
Certificate of exemption
Owners of XL bullys will be able to seek a certificate of exemption if they can prove that their dog has a licence, is microchipped and is neutered.
The ban will bring Ireland into line with Britain and the North.
XL bullys were banned and seriously restricted in the UK after they were involved in about half of fatal dog attacks between 2021 and 2023.
The Irish ban is being brought in following a spate of dog attacks in recent months, including one which led to the death of Nicole Morey in Limerick.
Ms Morey was killed by her dogs at her home in early June.
She had just got home from celebrating her 23rd birthday when she was attacked at about 11.40pm at her home outside Ballyneety village, some 12k from Limerick city.
Armed gardaí shot one of the dogs dead in an effort to stop the dog mauling the young woman.
A young boy, Alejandro Mizsan, was left with serious injuries following an attack by an XL bully in November 2022.
The dog attacked him while he was playing, aged nine, near his home in an estate in Enniscorthy, Wexford, tearing off his bottom lip, mauling his cheeks and injuring the child's legs and body.
A man and a woman were jailed earlier this year following the attack which left Alejandro with serious facial injuries.
11 restricted breeds
Currently, Ireland does not ban any other breed of dog, but there are 11 restricted breeds.
Those animals on the list are required to be kept on a short lead and wear a muzzle while in public places.
John O'Callaghan of Dog Advocacy Ireland said that the proposed ban is a knee-jerk reaction to the tragic recent attacks and new legislation should be instead introduced to better regulate dog breeding.
Many dogs now being submitted to animal charities and shelters contain some strains of the dog breeds soon to be banned.
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has said that more than one in 10 dogs in their care could be considered part of the soon-to-be banned breed.
