XL bully ban comes into force
More than 35,000 XL bully dogs have been registered.
From today (1 February), it is illegal to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without a Certificate of Exemption.
Any owner of an XL bully found not to be complying with the new rules will have their dog seized and face a criminal record and an unlimited fine.
The latest government figures reveal that more than 35,000 dogs have been registered for exemption. As the total number of XL bully type dogs in England and Wales is not known, with estimates ranging from 50,000 to 100,000, it is unclear how many might still be unregistered.
There have also been over 150 claims for compensation for euthanising XL bully dogs.
The ban was introduced by the UK government under the Dangerous Dogs Act following a rise in the number of fatal dog attacks. Since the start of 2021, there have been 23 fatal dog attacks, with at least 10 of the attacks involving dogs identified as, or suspected to be, XL bullies.
Environment secretary Steve Barclay said: “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.”
To qualify for an exemption certificate, the dog must be neutered by 31 December 2024 if they were less than one year old on 31 January 2024 and by 30 June 2024 if they were more than year old on 31 January 2024.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has been pressing the government to extend the neutering deadlines because of the risk of developmental orthopaedic problems and other conditions in large breeds neutered early and to ease the pressure on the veterinary profession.
The BVA and other animal welfare and veterinary charities including the RSPCA, Battersea, and The Kennel Club have also called for breed-specific bans to be replaced by measures focused on breeders and owners.
Image © Shutterstock
BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.
