The Irish Blue Cross Statement on Listed Breeds

The Irish Blue Cross, through its day-to-day work with pet owners, encourages responsible pet ownership. It encourages pet owners to think carefully when taking on a pet and to consider how it will fit into their lifestyle, its very basic need for companionship, exercise, healthy diet, veterinary care, etc.  The Charity always encourages the re-homing of unwanted dogs from rescue centres and Dog Pounds. This ties in with the huge level of work carried out by The Irish Blue Cross to date in reducing levels of unwanted litters through its hugely popular low cost neutering scheme.  
 
The Irish Blue Cross encourages owners of listed breeds (Control of Dogs Regulations 1998) to adhere to regulations enforceable by law.  In summary these are, that restricted breed owners should at all times ensure that when they are in public places their dogs are muzzled, on a short strong lead and under the control of an adult older than sixteen years of age, capable of controlling the dog.
 
The listed breeds are: American Pit Bull Terriers, Bull Mastiffs, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherd, Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bandog and crosses of the above.