Over the weekend, the 12-month-old baby was attacked at her home in the Lixnaw area.
She was taken to Cork University Hospital with serious injuries and underwent immediate surgery. She is said to be recovering well.
The dog has been put down by veterinary services and a garda investigation into the incident is underway.
Ownership of the breed without a certificate of exemption was made illegal in the UK in February and a similar ban is to be put in place across Ireland in the coming months.
They will be the first dog breed to ever be banned in Ireland.
There have been many high-profile attacks across the country involving the breed. In June, Nicole Lisa Marie Morey was killed by her XL bully when returning to her home in Limerick after a night out.
A similar attack occurred in 2022 when an XL bully left 10-year-old Alejandro Mizsan with serious facial injuries in Co. Wexford.
The XL bully is not technically a breed in itself, but rather the largest type of the American bully breed. They typically stand around 50cm high and can weigh up to 64kg.
There is extensive debate over whether the breed are considered “dangerous”.
XL bullies are typically very strong and have a powerful bite, therefore attacks involving the breed can result in serious and often fatal injuries. Due to the breeds strength, they require extensive training and socialisation, and are not often recommended for first time owners.
On the other hand, many argue that the breed is not “inherently dangerous” but rather unscrupulous breeding and poor ownership can exaggerate aggressive traits.
Many dog charities, including the RSPCA, advocate against breed-specific bans arguing that they are ineffective and punish responsible owners and pets.
Nonetheless, in October, breeding, rehoming, reselling and importing XL bully dogs will be prohibited.
In February of next year, ownership of the breed is only legal if you hold a certificate of exemption - proof of licensing, microchipping and neutering.
