Police to seize XL Bullies as neighbours and friends dob in unneutered pets
Police will start seizing XL Bully dogs that have not been neutered after a deadline to do so passed, with some forces are already responding to reports from neighbours, relatives and friends of pet owners.
At least 55,000 dogs have been registered as exempt after the breed was added to the list of those illegal to own under the Dangerous Dogs Act last year.
It followed a string of fatal attacks linked to XL Bullies, including the deaths of 52-year-old Ian Price in Stonnall, Staffordshire, and 54-year-old Ian Langley in Sunderland.
On 31 December 2023 it became illegal to breed, sell or rehome an XL Bully, with anyone who wanted to keep their dog required to apply for an exemption certificate.
For the exemption to remain valid, owners were also required to provide proof that their XL Bully had been neutered by 30 June.
In an email sent by dog legislation officers (DLOs) from Thames Valley and Hampshire police and shared with i, owners have been told that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has a database of all XL Bully owners that have applied for exemption.
Dogs older than one year on 31 January 2024 had to be neutered by 30 June. For dogs younger than one, the deadline is 31 December 2024.
“If you miss these deadline dates, we as the police will be informed by Defra as again, if this is not done, your exempt dog becomes un-exempt and therefore will be illegal to possess and you run the risk of the police being able to seize your dog as such,” the email adds.
Debbie Connolly, an expert in illegal dog breeds, told i she has no doubt that police forces will be notified by Defra of dogs in their area which have not been exempted and pets will be seized.
“Yes, Defra will be providing them with infromation per force area telling them which dogs have been neutered and which haven’t,” she said.
“From what we’ve seen, police are already responding to reports of unregistered XL Bullies.
“It will be a report from a neighbour, or family or friend. Sometimes the dog has been exempted and it’s just a vicious complaint where people have fallen out.”
Ian Price, 52, was mauled to death by two dogs thought to be the XL Bully breed in Stonnall, Staffordshire (Photo: Facebook)
Although the deadline for neutering dogs older than one has passed, owners have been given until 26 July to submit their proof so Ms Connolly believes it may be a few weeks before police starting taking action.
But she described Defra’s system for ensuring the neutering of XL Bullies as a “shambles”.
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“There’s been quite a few cock-ups by Defra,” Ms Connolly claimed. “In a few cases, they’ve been sending letters to all owners telling them they need to have their dogs neutered by 30 June.
“But for some of them they don’t need to be until December because of the age of the dog.
“Defra has also refused to listen to concerns that bitches coming into season, or in season already, should not be spayed because it would be unsafe.
“There’s been an increase in reports of dogs bleeding out and dying after being neutered.
“Defra also changed the email address for sending in proof of neutering so some people don’t know if it is on the database. The whole thing is a shambles.”
A spokesperson for Defra confirmed the department “routinely shares the details of dogs of all banned breed types that are registered on the Index of Exempted dogs but no longer exempt with the police”.
“The XL bully ban was brought in to protect public safety following a concerning rise in fatal dog attacks involving the XL Bully breed type. We expect all owners to comply with the strict conditions,” the spokesperson added.