Following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities caused by XL Bully dogs, The Dangerous Dog Act 1991, as of the 31 December 2023, has made it an offence to:
- sell an XL Bully dog
- abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray
- give away an XL Bully dog
- breed from an XL Bully dog
- have an XL Bully dog in public without a lead and muzzle
The ban only applies to XL Bully dogs. There are other established breeds such as those recognised by the UK Kennel Club that may meet some of the characteristics of the XL Bully breed type. These are not within scope of the ban.
A suspected XL Bully breed type does not need to fit the physical description perfectly. If your dog meets the minimum height measurements and a substantial number of the characteristics, it could be considered an XL Bully breed type. This includes if it was not sold as an XL Bully and cross breeds that look more like XL Bully dogs than any other type of dog.
An XL Bully has been defined as a large dog with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for its size and a powerfully built individual. Their heights are 20in (51cm) at the withers for a male dog and 19in (48cm) at the withers for a female – there is guidance on many animal charity websites as to how to measure your dog and further identifying characteristics.
If you live in England or Wales and want to keep your XL Bully dog, you MUST have applied for a Certificate of exemption by January 31st 2024; and from 1 February 2024 it is a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless your dog has a valid Certificate of Exemption.
In order to get a Certificate of Exemption you must:
- Get third party public liability insurance cover for your dog.
- Neuter your dog permanently if it is not already.
- Pay the £92.40 application fee for each dog that you want to keep.
You can apply for the Certificate of Exemption on the www.gov.uk website.
To keep your XL Bully dog, it MUST then be microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzle at all times when in public, kept in a secure place to that it cannot escape and be neutered. As an owner you must also be over 16 years old, take out third party public liability insurance against you dog injuring other people and be able to show the Certificate of Exemption when asked, either at the time or within 5 days.
If you own a XL Bully dog and have not adhered to the above, you could be prosecuted, and this can hold a sentence of up to six months imprisonment. There are several other offences that stem from owning a dangerous dog, including, owning or being a person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in any place (whether or not public) where death is caused or owning or being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in any place which hold must more severe penalties (please note that this is not an exhaustive list).
Please note that ALL dog owners, not just those who own what is classed as a dangerous dog, have an onus to ensure that their dog is not dangerously out of control anywhere, including public places, private places or in the owner’s home address. The Dangerous Dog Act defines a dog out of control if it causes an injury to a person or if it reasonable makes someone fear injury. It could also be decided that a dog is dangerously out of control if it hurts another animal or if the owner of that animal believes they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking that animal. You can be sent to prison and/or receive a financial penalty if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may also be banned from owning a dog in the future and there could be a destruction order for your dog.
Legally all dogs whilst in a public place must wear a collar with their owner’s information (including name, house name/number and postcode) on and as of 2016 when the Microchipping of Dogs Regulation came into force all dogs over 8 weeks old must be microchipped with your correct information.
If the police wish to speak to you regarding any matters in respect of owning a dangerous dog, an offence involving a dangerous dog, or any dog related matter, please do not hesitate to contact our Criminal Department on 01633 213411 or 01290 470909 and we will be happy to assist you in respect of the same.
*Please note that any advice or assistance at the police station for an interview under caution is free of charge. However, should you require one off advice about the same, we will be happy to provide a fixed fee consultation.*