A spokesperson for Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) said: “On 10 December 2024, an abandoned dog was collected from the Dundonald area. We have since established the age of the dog to be at least 9 months old.
"It was assessed and determined to be a Pit Bull Type, which is a banned breed under The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (as amended) and therefore illegal to own without a valid exemption certificate.
"Following significant public concern, Council agreed that no further action would be taken until an additional, independent assessment could be conducted to provide further assurance in relation to the breed of the dog.
"An independent and highly experienced Dog Legislation Officer from the Merseyside Police Service conducted the independent assessment on Wednesday 15 January 2025. The outcome confirmed the results of the initial assessment and determined the dog as a Pit Bull Type.
"Elected Members were briefed at a meeting on 16 January 2025. It was agreed that no further action would be taken until clarification was sought on a related legislative matter.
"This remains a very challenging situation for all concerned. We continue to encourage the owner of the dog to contact the council as soon as possible.”