A WOMAN was rushed to hospital today after being set upon and attacked viciously by two dogs.
Gardai have launched an investigation into the incident which happened at around 1pm at a residence in Dun Laoghaire in south Co Dublin.
Officers, including the Armed Support Unit, rushed to the scene where the victim was initially treated for her wounds.
She was then rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital where she is being treated for serious injuries, but they are not thought to be life-threatening.
It is the latest high profile incident involving dogs after a Limerick woman died in June.
The garda investigation will now focus on who owns the dogs and the circumstances of how they ended up mauling the woman, thought to be in her 60s.
It is understood that the pets were in the care of someone the victim knew.
Following the incident, the canines were taken into the custody of the warden.
A garda spokesman said: “Gardai were alerted by emergency services to an incident at a residence in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin this afternoon, Thursday 5th September 2024.
“A woman was attacked by a number of dogs. She has been taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital for treatment of her injuries, which are understood to be serious. Investigations are ongoing.”
Just last month, a baby girl had to undergo major surgery after being attacked by a vicious XL Bully dog.
The youngster – understood to be just 12 months old – was mauled at her home in Lixnaw, Co Kerry and was treated in Cork University Hospital.
Such incidents have been of major concern since little Alejandro Miszan suffered severe facial injuries when a pitbull attacked him near his home in November 2022 when he was aged just nine.
This year, Nicole Morey was tragically mauled to death outside her rented home in June on her 23rd birthday.
Rural Minister Heather Humphreys has brought in new laws to ban the monster breed, saying: “No dog’s life is worth more than human life.”
The first phase of the ban begins on October 1, when it will become illegal to import, breed or re-sell XL Bullies.
And from February 1, 2025, owning one will be illegal unless you have a ‘certificate of exemption’.
This dangerous breed of dog has already been outlawed in the UK and Northern Ireland and has been responsible for a number of high profile attacks in Ireland in recent years.
Minister Humphreys put together a task force led by former Deputy Garda Commissioner John Twomey to examine Ireland’s dog laws.
The first step will kick in from October 1 this year when breeding, rehoming, reselling or importing XL Bullies will be banned.
The second stage will start from February 1, 2025, when there will be a full ban on owning an XL Bully unless you have a “certificate of exemption.”
Dog owners who currently have an XL Bully can get this certificate if they can prove they have a dog license, micro-chip and that their pet is neutered.
