Everything you need to know about the American XL bully dog ban

pa ready, american, xl bully, rishi sunak, police, dogs, everything you need to know about the american xl bully dog ban

American XL bully dogs will be banned by the end of the year following a series of attacks across the UK.

From 31 December all bully XLs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. It will also be illegal from this date to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, and abandon these dogs or let them stray.

Here is a deeper look into what the move might mean for dog owners.

What will happen if you own an American XL bully dog?

Owners of the dog will not see their pets culled but will likely face new restrictions – including a requirement to have the dogs neutered.

The Chief Veterinary Officer said that there would be an “amnesty” approach, echoing the way the ban on pit bull terriers under the Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in the 1990s.

Professor Christine Middlemiss confirmed that owners will need to register their American XL bully, with the dog required to be neutered and muzzled and on a lead when in public.

They will also need to be insured.

She stressed that anyone complying with new restrictions will be able to keep their dog.

What are American XL bully dogs?

American kennel clubs have different definitions of what an American XL bully is but it is not recognised as a specific breed by the UK’s The Kennel Club, dog expert witness Colin Tennant told the PA news agency.

The American Bully Kennel Club defines the American XL bully as a crossbreed of the American pit bull terrier, olde English bulldogge, English bulldog and the American bulldog, while the American Dog Breeders Association defines it as a crossbreed of the American Staffordshire terrier and the American pit bull terrier.

pa ready, american, xl bully, rishi sunak, police, dogs, everything you need to know about the american xl bully dog ban

American XL Bullies have been linked to 40% of more than 800 attacks tracked by campaign group Bully Watch

(Getty Images/iStockPhoto)

Why are they not defined as a breed in the UK?

The dog is not recognised as a specific breed by The Kennel Club.

It could be hard to define and some fear a ban could inadvertently outlaw a range of other dogs.

How does identifying a dog as a banned breed work?

Police or dog experts can judge the type of dog.

Mr Tennant said this is done with lists of characteristics, so it can be classed as a banned breed if it ticks the boxes, even if the dog is crossbred with a breed which is not banned.

Will this make it difficult to enforce a ban?

Ministers were quick to acknowledge that the details of the ban, and the exact definition of the breed, would need to be worked out.

But officials appear confident that a consensus can be reached that will target a ban specifically on the American XL bully.

The chief veterinary officer said officials would work with vets, dog experts, the police and NGOs to find an “appropriate breed definition”.

pa ready, american, xl bully, rishi sunak, police, dogs, everything you need to know about the american xl bully dog ban

XL Bullies will join the list of banned breeds by the end of the year, Rishi Sunak says

(Getty Images)

Which dogs are already banned in the UK?

In the UK, it is against the law to own certain types of dog.

According to the government website, these are the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro.

It is also against the law to sell a banned dog, abandon a banned dog, give away a banned dog, and breed from a banned dog.

What happens if you own a banned dog?

The police or local council dog warden can take it away, even if it is not acting dangerously and there has not been a complaint made.

A police or council dog expert will judge what type of dog it is and whether it is (or could be) a danger to the public. The dog will then either be released or kept in kennels while the police (or council) apply to a court.

It is the owner’s responsibility to prove the dog is not a banned type. If it is proved, the court will order the dog to be returned. If the owner cannot prove it (or they plead guilty), they will be convicted of a crime.

The owner can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months (or both) for having a banned dog against the law. The dog will also be destroyed.

If the dog is banned but the court thinks it is not a danger to the public, it may put it on the Index of Exempted Dogs and let the owner keep it.

pa ready, american, xl bully, rishi sunak, police, dogs, everything you need to know about the american xl bully dog ban

When the ban comes into force, owners will need to prove their dog is not a banned type

(Getty Images)

The owner will be given a certificate of exemption, which is valid for the life of the dog, and comes with a number of conditions.

The dog must be neutered, microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public, and kept in a secure place so it cannot escape.

The owner must take out insurance against the dog injuring other people, be aged over 16, show the certificate of exemption when asked by a police officer or council dog warden, either at the time or within five days, and let the Index of Exempted Dogs know if the owner changes address, or the dog dies.

OTHER NEWS

23 minutes ago

E-commerce firm Shopee agreed to adjust its practices in Indonesia after watchdog says it violated competition law

25 minutes ago

General election latest: Betting scandal count rises as Sunak and Starmer face off in last TV debate

25 minutes ago

Wrongly jailed former subpostmistress rejects apology of engineer whose evidence helped convict her

25 minutes ago

Medusa banking trojan returns to steal your passwords and cash — how to stay safe

25 minutes ago

UP: Govt appoints new DMs in 12 districts

25 minutes ago

Ange Postecoglou adds A-League winning coach Nick Montgomery to Tottenham staff

25 minutes ago

Emeli Sande, Damage and Dane Bowers team up with Coleen Rooney for charity bash

25 minutes ago

State government files lawsuit against horse farm after discovering massive manure pile likely contaminating water: 'Hundreds of thousands of cubic feet'

25 minutes ago

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walks out of court after being freed

25 minutes ago

Video: Brittany Hockley flaunts her insane abs in very revealing dress during her 'engagement moon' in the Maldives with fiancé Benjamin Siegrist

25 minutes ago

Melbourne woman shocked after filming neighbour's dangerous backyard act while she cooked lasagne in her kitchen

28 minutes ago

WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich appears in court for trial on espionage charges he, his employer and the U.S. deny

31 minutes ago

Who is JD Vance, potential Trump VP candidate?

31 minutes ago

Mathew Rosengart - the attorney who helped free Britney Spears from her 13-year conservatorship - is no longer representing the singer: 'It's been an honor'

31 minutes ago

Popular ice cream maker recalls nearly 70 flavors and treats over listeria concerns

31 minutes ago

The 'awful' moments after Diana's death, polo with William and unseen pictures of the Prince and Kate: Designer who befriended the Princess tells all as she puts three of the royal's dresses up for sale (and they could fetch up to £1million)

31 minutes ago

Just Stop Oil protester who invaded Twickenham pitch during rugby match and threw orange powder insists he was 'doing my duty as a doctor' - as he and fellow eco-clown are cleared

31 minutes ago

Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce blasts lack of consultation about Albanese government's approval of offshore windfarm in his area as 'disgusting'

33 minutes ago

Extreme wildfires are on the rise globally, powered by the climate crisis

33 minutes ago

'Trying' Season 4 Review: "I Love This Series, Even With Its Flawed View On Adoption"

34 minutes ago

SEDD, Huawei exchange technological solutions

34 minutes ago

Tuesday Election Roundup: Boebert Handily Wins, Bowman Defeated, Trump-Backed Candidates Lose and More

34 minutes ago

TODAY reveals the newest Gerber baby: EXCLUSIVE

34 minutes ago

Federal court dismisses defamation claim by AFP officers against Shane Drumgold

34 minutes ago

Camila Cabello Shares the Advice Taylor Swift Once Gave Her About Overcoming Self-Doubt

34 minutes ago

‘His rehab is going well’: Nathan Cleary return date locked in as Panthers refuse to rush back their star playmaker

34 minutes ago

Celine Dion 'offered the chance to perform at Paris Olympics'

34 minutes ago

Oprah Winfrey recalls feeling 'shame' amid weight struggles

34 minutes ago

When I entered that sex therapist’s room the woman I used to be was lost. I fought for years to expose him

35 minutes ago

87 travellers caught at Changi Airport for failing to declare cash above $20k, pay taxes

35 minutes ago

Kylian Mbappe’s return fails to mask France shortcomings at Euro 2024

36 minutes ago

Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce blasts lack of consultation about Albanese government's approval of offshore windfarm in his area as 'disgusting'

38 minutes ago

Video: Julian Assange breaks down in tears as judge on US-controlled island declares him 'a free man' and sentences him to time served for espionage: WikiLeaks founder released without supervision for the first time in 14 years

38 minutes ago

Video: Footy star Christian Petracca is seen for the first time since horror injury ended his season and left him close to tears over its effect on his fiancée and family

39 minutes ago

UN-backed Kenyan police force arrives in Haiti amid surge in gang violence

40 minutes ago

‘Time has run out’ for Australia to procure submarines

40 minutes ago

Manulife boosts key profit target at investor day in Hong Kong

40 minutes ago

Fish Recall Sparks Warning to 15 States

40 minutes ago

Dubai's Dh30bn drainage plan will safeguard city's future, experts say

41 minutes ago

Jim Chalmers is 'running out of spin' as inflation surges