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New restrictions on American XL bully breed-type dogs are set to be introduced in Northern Ireland, following regulations already implemented in England, Scotland, and Wales. The timeframe for the implementation of these measures has not yet been disclosed. The new scheme will require XL bully dog owners to appropriately record and account for their dogs, keep them on a lead and muzzled in public, and have them neutered. Breeding, selling, abandoning, or giving away XL bullies will also be prohibited. The announcement has received criticism from the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA), which called for a focus on responsible pet ownership and better enforcement instead. The Dog Control Coalition (DCC) has urged the Northern Ireland government to learn from the rushed implementation of the ban in England and Wales and provide a sufficient transition period for owners to register their dogs for exemption. The Scottish government has extended the neutering deadline for XL bullies to 18 months, and the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed this decision. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on the findings of survey conducted for insurance company Churchill Insurance which suggest that dog owners limit the time that they walk their dogs when it is raining.

The article presents a study which found that dog-owner relationship is the most important factor that could encourage owners to walk their dogs more often.

A photograph of dog walkers who had their dogs microchipped on June 2, 2008, at the Battersea Park in London, is presented.