Almost 50 pit bull terriers were surrendered to Belfast City Council for destruction in the past nine months, it was revealed today.
Another 15 of the illegal fighting dogs were destroyed by Ballymena Council in Co Antrim after it began an amnesty for owners following an attack on a family last November.
In Belfast, which has no amnesty, 49 dogs have been surrendered since May - 18 in January alone. Prosecutions over seven dogs are pending, and they are the only animals being kept alive until the court action has been completed.
Belfast City Council said that since May it has dealt with 128 complaints regarding pit bull terrier-type dogs; as a result 49 dogs were handed over to the dog wardens for humane destruction.
Dog warden manager Nigel Cardwell said: "Dangerous dogs on our streets continue to be a matter of great concern to the public and the council is committed to trying to tackle the issue in partnership with the police and USPCA."
But the USPCA has written to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development expressing concerns over the enforcement of the dangerous dogs legislation, particularly with regard to the identification of proscribed breeds.
Mr Cardwell said the overwhelming majority of dog attacks reported to and investigated by the council did not involve illegal breeds such as pit bulls.
PA