XL bully dogs will join the list of banned breeds in England and Wales at the end of the year, the government has confirmed.
The breed, which has been responsible for several fatal attacks, has been added to the list of dogs outlawed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Under the new rules, which come into force from December 31, it will be illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow XL bully dogs to stray in England and Wales.
From that date, XL bully dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.
The rules will further strengthen from February 1, 2024, when it will become illegal to own an XL bully if it is not registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.
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Owners of an XL bully dog without a certificate of exemption will face a criminal record and an unlimited fine and their dog could be seized.
American bullies originated in the US in the 1980s following breeding between American pitbull terriers and American, English and Olde English bulldogs. They are not recognised by the Kennel Club, meaning that no one knows exactly how many there are in the UK, but experts believe there are between 50,000 and 100,000.
The ban was first announced earlier this year following a number of high profile attacks.
Analysis of media reports suggests that more than two in every five attacks this year have been by American bulldogs, with the breed accounting for three quarters of deaths.
Between 2001 and 2021 there were an average of three deaths a year from dog attacks but last year ten people died, four of whom were children. So far this year there have been five deaths.
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Bully Watch, a campaign group set up to “provide an evidence-based approach” to dog attacks, says the breed is responsible for 11 of the 15 deaths since the start of 2022.
• Watch: How rogue trainers are turning XL bully dogs ‘into weapons’
To obtain a certificate of exemption, owners of XL bullies will have to show that their dog is microchipped and neutered. They must also keep the animal on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public and in a secure place when at home so that it cannot escape.
Owners must also be over 16 years old and will be required to take out insurance against their dog injuring other people. Applying for the exemption will cost £92.40.
Anyone with an XL bully must be able to show the certificate of exemption when asked by a police officer or a council dog warden, either at the time or within five days. If they fail to do so, their dog could ultimately be taken away and put down. However, vets will not be expected to report XL bully dogs and their owners to the police.
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The government said it will provide more information on how to apply for an exemption for an XL bully dog soon.
If an owner does not want to apply for a certificate of exemption, they will be offered compensation of £200 to put their dog to sleep.
The same rules currently apply to the UK’s other four banned dog breeds, the Pitbull terrier, Dogo argentino, Japanese tosa and Fila brasiliero.
As of last year, there were 3,595 dogs registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs. The overwhelming majority of these were Pitbull terriers. There were no Fila brasilieros exempt and only three Japanese tosa and 21 Dogo argentinos.
The ban on XL bullies was welcomed by Bully Watch. It said: “Drastic action needed to be taken. There are no easy solutions. But given the scale of fatalities and severe injuries, something had to be done in order to safeguard the public while protecting the rights of responsible owners. And I think the steps laid out are the best out of a bad situation.” However, the RSPCA, which objects to the Dangerous Dogs Act, expressed reservations.
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It released a statement as part of a “Dog Control Coalition”, which includes other welfare and veterinary charities, that said it was “disappointed that the government hasn’t taken the opportunity to completely overhaul the Dangerous Dogs Act”.
It added: “With the act’s focus on specific breeds, rather than prevention and implementation of tougher penalties for those owners not in control of their dogs, it is not fit for purpose.”
The coalition expressed relief that “responsible owners of American XL bullies will be able to keep their dogs” but added that it had “serious concerns about the very short amount of time they will have to comply with the rules”.
• Why is the UK banning American XL bully dogs and what happens next?
The coalition also objected to the government’s definition of an American XL bully type, which, it said, is “hugely subjective and open to interpretation for the individuals enforcing this legislation”, creating a lack of consistency across the country and leaving it to owners to determine whether their dog is or is an American XL bully type.
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“The government urgently needs to provide more clarity for owners on how to interpret this definition, so they can understand if it will affect them and their dog,” it said.
Details of the ban came as it emerged that the Cheshire police is investigating after a man on a mobility scooter was attacked by a dog reported to be an XL bully while walking his own pet.
Officers are appealing for witnesses after the pet owner and a member of the public who intervened were attacked in Birchwood, Warrington.
Police Constable Victoria Taylor of Cheshire Police, who is investigating the attack, said: “I understand this may cause concern in the community and we are working hard to try and locate the dog and its owner.
“Witnesses also said there were some school children filming the incident. I’d urge anyone with footage of the attack to contact me.”
