The RSPCA is reminding dog owners that any dog has the potential to bite, whether banned or not.

The measures aim to strengthen protections in the home.

The government has announced strict new safety measures to protect children from banned dog breeds inside the home.

Under Defra legislation coming into force on November 1, it will be illegal for owners to leave a child under 12 unattended with a banned breed in any domestic or private setting.

The restriction will become a mandatory requirement of the Certificate of Exemption, which allows owners to legally keep a banned breed, such as the XL Bully. Failure to comply could result in the dog being seized and the owner being prosecuted.

Also announced are changes to the insurance requirements for owners of exempted banned dog breeds. From July 1, the requirement for third-party public liability insurance will be removed, reflecting the withdrawal of the only available provider and the absence of any suitable alternative products in the market.

Animal Welfare Minister, Baroness Hayman, emphasised that the safety of children must always come first: 

“Any attack on a child by a dangerous dog is unacceptable…Any new measure will strengthen protections in the home by ensuring young children are not left unattended around banned breed dogs, including XL Bully types. While many owners are acting responsibly - those that don’t should face the legal consequences.”

However, RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines warned that limiting the requirement strictly to banned dog breeds "further compounds the idea that some dogs are dangerous and others aren’t purely because of how they look.”

“Any dog - whether a banned type or not - has the potential to bite and we want to remind all dog owners that they should never leave dogs and children unsupervised,” she said.

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