XL Bully deadline as owners get final 'act now' warning – check rules
A crucial deadline for XL bully owners to keep their dogs legally has now passed.
Owners of the dogs were told they had until midday today (Wednesday Jan 31) to apply for certificates of exemption if they wish to keep their pets before a ban on the breed comes into force. From February 1, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL bully in England and Wales without a certificate.
Applications had to be submitted by 12pm on Wednesday. Anyone with questions about the process has been urged to contact the Defra Companion Animal Welfare Team.
It follows restrictions which came into force at the end of last year, which mean the breeds must now be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. Breeding, selling or abandoning the dogs also became illegal as of December 31. If an XL Bully owner has a pup which is less than a year old on Wednesday, they must be neutered by the end of 2024, and evidence that they have done so must be provided.
As well as neutering their animals, XL bully owners seeking an exemption must also pay an application fee, hold third party public liability insurance for their pets, and ensure the dogs are microchipped. The Government move to ban the breed followed a series of attacks involving XL bullies, with one man dying after being savaged by one of the dogs last year. Owners of XL bully dogs in Scotland will also be subject at a later date to the safeguards after the Scottish Government replicated legislation in place south of the border.
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The RSPCA said banning the breed "is not the answer" and warned of a "huge risk" that rescue centres and vets will be unable to cope with a likely surge in demand due to the restrictions. Dr Samantha Gaines, dog welfare expert at the charity, said: "We are deeply saddened by tragic incidents involving dogs and we agree that there is an urgent need to provide protection for the public - but banning XL bullies is not the answer.
"Instead, we want to see the UK Government commit to the enforcement and improvement of current breeding and dog control regulations, and to promoting responsible dog ownership and training. Improving the way dogs are bred, controlled and treated throughout their lives is key to preventing dog bite incidents.
The ban has however been welcomed by a number of survivor's groups, with campaigners including members of families who have lost children or loved ones to attacks by the dog breed. The American XL bully breed of dog has been responsible for nearly 50% of all attacks on both humans and dogs, and 70% of all deaths to dogs since 2021.
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