XL Bullies could be put down if owners are non-compliant, police chief says
Illegal XL bully owners have been informed that they could save their dogs from being put down if they cooperate with the police officers seizing their pets .
Some are concerned about the danger risks associated with the breed, while others claim with the right looking after, they can be loving pets capable of playing a valuable role in the family. However, it is now a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate, meaning unregistered pets will be taken and owners possibly fined and prosecuted. If a dog is seized, there is a chance it could be destroyed. But if you comply with the police, it could save the animal from being put down.
Approximately 40,000 of the large bulldog-type American breed were registered before the deadline on the afternoon of January 31. However, there are many owners who haven't followed the process and consequently face the risk of losing their beloved pets forever. Sadly, if your dog is taken, it will be transported to kennels, where the court will make the difficult decision as to whether the dog is a danger to the public and whether it should be put to sleep.
Assistant Chief Constable Hobrough said: "I would urge everybody to comply with the law and the legislation. If people haven't put their dog on the database already, they are committing an absolute offence. We are, as police forces, going to be enforcing the law. We didn't create the law, but we do enforce the law, and we will have to execute warrants and seize dogs and take action towards such dog owners.
"I would encourage strongly people to be compliant if that were the situation with their own dogs because one of the very tests that is made about a dog or an owner (in court) is that the dog is not aggressive, but also that the owner is fit and responsible and not aggressive also. So if either of those things were not complied with, then there would be no option for a court then but to destroy the dog."
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ACC Hobrough claimed that if dog owners resist, the force will take "proportionate action with minimum use of force" to seize the pets. In all likelihood, the recent ban will serve as a catalyst for a higher demand in kennels, causing huge "logistical challenges" for officers. There are 137 dog legislation officers in the UK, with a minimum of one in every force.
The government's controversial decision to ban XL bullies came after several attacks on innocent members of the public. In October 2023, a woman was injured by her own American XL bully in Norfolk. The previous month, Ian Price from Staffordshire tragically passed away after being attacked by a pair of American XL bullies.
In November 2021, Jack Lis, 10, was killed by one of the dogs at a mate's house in South Wales. Environment Secretary, Steve Barclay, said: "The ban on XL bullies is now in place, meaning it is illegal to own one of these dogs unless it has been registered. We have delivered our pledge to bring in this important measure to protect public safety, and we expect all XL bully owners to comply with the strict conditions."
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