A MAN is being treated in hospital after he was injured in a terrifying dog attack.
The incident happened in the Crumlin area of the capital when the man was visiting relatives.
It’s understood the man was bitten on the head by an XL Bully dog before being brought to hospital.
His injuries aren’t believed to be life threatening.
The Garda Armed Support Unit responded to the scene and the dog was forced into a back garden.
Dublin City Council’s dog warden also attended the incident.
One local told us: “There was a lot of commotion around the house and residents could hear the dog continuously barking in the garden.
“It wasn’t long before everyone heard about the man being attacked and being brought to hospital.
“Thankfully the man who was attacked is going to be ok.”
A garda spokesperson said: “Gardai were alerted to an incident involving a dog that occurred at a property in Crumlin, Dublin 12 shortly after 7:30pm on Friday, 21st March 2025.
“A man, aged in his 50s, was taken to St. James’s Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
“The dog has been removed by the Dog Warden. Investigations are ongoing.”
The ban on XL Bully dogs is in full swing following calls for tighter pet control measures after a number of attacks.
Former Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphreys announced the ban in summer 2024.
The first phase kicked off last October and the second phase came into play on February 1.
The move came following a number of “horrific” attacks by XL Bullies last year, with Department claiming that the ban is in the interest of safety.
Minister Humphreys explained at the time: “These new regulations will ensure that, from October, nobody in the State can take ownership of these dangerous dogs and that it will be illegal to breed, sell, import, rehome, exchange, gift or abandon XL Bully dogs.”
She continued: “I know a lot of people will not agree with this decision. I’m a dog owner myself and I know people love their dogs.
“We must be mindful however that no dog’s life is worth more than human life. Ultimately that is what guided me in making this decision.
“The XL bully was responsible for the horrific attack on Alejandro Mizsan in Wexford last year and it was also the breed which killed a young woman in Limerick.
“If we do not take action now the number of these dogs in the country will grow and my fear is that these attacks will become more frequent.
“It is my strong view that Ireland should not be out of step with neighbouring jurisdictions in Northern Ireland and the UK on this matter.”
