Animal charities settle XL Bully seizure and euthanasia case

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Six animal charities settled their challenge over XL Bully seizure and euthanasia regulations at the High Court on 27 February 2025, with final orders postponed while the State agreed to amend the rules.

The charities represented by counsel were My Lovely Horse Rescue, Clare Animal Welfare, Working Animal Guardians, Dogs Angels Ireland, Wicklow Animal Welfare and the Haven Rescue. Justice Sara Phelan adjourned the matter for mention on 29 April 2025.

The State’s amended regulations came into effect on 9 June 2025 and introduced a formal review process when an owner disputes a dog warden’s decision that a seized dog is an XL Bully.

An owner may request review within 21 days of seizure, and the dog should then be returned while the review proceeds, subject to additional restrictions. The local authority’s review officer has a further 28 days to consider evidence and issue a binding decision.