New laws banning XL Bully type dogs were laid in Parliament on 31 October, in order to add the breed to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
This legislation marks a key milestone in the delivery of the Prime Minister’s commitment to put into law a ban on the breed type following recent attacks and fatalities which appear to be driven by XL Bullies.
The following legislation applies in England and Wales:
- From 31 December 2023, breeding, selling, advertising, rehoming, gifting, abandoning and allowing an XL Bully dog to stray will be illegal, and these dogs must be muzzled and on a lead in public.
- From 1st February 2024 it will also become illegal to own an XL Bully dog unless the owner has received an exemption.
- Owners who wish to legally keep their dogs will have until 31st January 2024 to register their dog on the Index of Exempted dogs. They will receive a Certificate of Exemption and they will need to comply with the requirements of the Index.
- This includes the requirement for all dogs on the Index to be neutered. In line with this, if an XL Bully is less than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 31 December 2024.
- If an XL Bully is older than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 30 June 2024.
- Owners without a Certificate of Exemption could receive a criminal record and an unlimited fine if they are found to be in possession of an XL Bully type.
Owners of XL Bullies can access the most up to date information on what action they need to take and when on the dedicated page on the Government website - Prepare for the ban on XL Bully dogs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
