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XL bully owners can now apply for exemption
The transition period will run until 31 January 2024.
Transition period has started before ban comes into force.

Owners of XL bully dogs can now apply for a Certificate of Exemption, after the Government announced the transition period has begun before the breed is banned.

Applications for a certificate can be made online. Owners will need to pay a £92.40 application fee and have third party liability insurance for banned breeds of dogs in place before they apply.

Owners will also have to make sure their dog has been microchipped, which is already a legal requirement for all dogs, and that their dog has been neutered by a certain date (depending on the age of the dog).

The transition period will run until 31 January 2024. From 1 February 2024, owners without a Certificate of Exemption face the risk of being prosecuted and could receive an unlimited fine.

Some of the rules concerning XL bully dogs will come into force before then. From 31 December 2023, it will be illegal to breed, sell, give away, rehome, or abandon an XL bully. When in public, XL bully dogs will be required to be kept muzzled and on a lead.

If an owner does not wish to apply for a Certificate of Exemption, they can choose to have their dog euthanised. The Government has put in place a compensation scheme, with forms available online for owners and veterinary surgeons.

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “It is important that XL bully owners read the guidance and take all the necessary steps.

“This includes applying for a Certificate of Exemption if you want to keep your dog and ensuring they are muzzle trained by the end of the year, as your dog will need to be muzzled and on a lead in public after 31 December 2023.

“XL breeders should have also now stopped breeding their dogs and I would advise all owners to make an appointment with your vet to get your XL Bully neutered as soon as possible.”

Responding to the news, BVNA president Lyndsay Hughes said: “All members of the veterinary team are likely to be faced with the very real possibility of assisting with euthanasia of young and healthy animals.

“Whilst we recognise in the case of any aggressive dog presenting to the practice that this is a viable treatment option, we will explore all other options whilst considering human safety before this final step.

“If presented with an XL Bully dog, whether aggressive or not, the options to the veterinary team will now be much more limited. The offer of compensating for the partial costs of the euthanasia may go some way to alleviating the client’s suffering, but this will have a serious impact of the wellbeing of the veterinary team faced with this task.”

Image © Shutterstock

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VMG president joins House of Lords

News Story 1
 Miles Russell, president of the Veterinary Management Group (VMG), has been elected to the House of Lords as a crossbench hereditary peer.

He will join Lord Trees as a representative of the veterinary sector in the second chamber of the UK parliament.

Lord Russell said: "Those of us working in the animal health and veterinary sectors are only too aware of the importance of the work we do and the challenges we face.

"I will use my platform in the House of Lords to increase understanding of our sectors and to promote positive change." 

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News Shorts
Duchess of York stars in charity calendar

The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) has released its charity calendar for 2024, featuring Sarah, Duchess of York and a selection of the retired service animals the charity supports.

The 12 images were taken by animal photographer Gerry Slade and include retired police dogs and horses, a former border force detector dog, and a retired fire investigation and urban search and rescue dog.

Sarah, Duchess of York, who is a patron of the charity, appears alongside retired police dog Jessie in the photograph for December.

So far this year, the charity has given more than 40,000 in grants to help former service animals with their veterinary care. After retirement, they receive no financial support from the Government and obtaining affordable insurance can be difficult.