XL Bully deadline PASSES as thousands 'panic' over breaking new laws that could land them in jail for 14 years
THE deadline for XL Bully owners to apply for exemption certificates if they want to keep their pets has passed.
From February 1, you will be able to own one XL Bully dog in England And Wales without certificate.
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Owners had until Wednesday afternoon to submit their applications.
It follows restrictions come into effect At the end of last year it was determined that the dogs had to be kept on a leash and muzzled in public.
New laws forbid the murderous race were formally tabled in Parliament under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Also breeding, selling or abandoning the dogs become illegal from December 31, 2023.
To qualify for an exemption certificate, owners must prove proof of ownership XL bully was neutered on June 30th.
If the puppy is less than a year old by Wednesday, it must be neutered by the end of 2024 and evidence must be present.
The clock is ticking for thousands of concerned owners.
Becky Thwaites
As well as castrating them animalsXL Bully owners who want an exemption must also pay an application fee and be held publicly liable by third parties insurance for their pets and make sure the dogs are chipped.
The government's decision to ban the breed followed a series of attacks involving XL bullieswith one man dying after being attacked by one of the dogs last year.
Anyone who defies the ban risks fourteen years behind bars.
Under strict legislation, breeding, selling, advertising, rehoming, abandoning and allowing an XL Bully dog to roam is illegal.
They can also be banned from ownership or their dangerous dogs can be euthanized.
Mark Hobrough, the leader of the National Police Chiefs' Dangerous Dog Council, has urged the public to report owners of XL bullies who are not following the rules so officers can assess the animals.
Seized dogs will be taken to kennels before a court decides whether they should be destroyed or not considered a threat to public safety.
Assistant Chief Constable Hobrough said: “I would urge everyone to comply with the law and the legislation. If people have not yet put their dog in the database, they are committing an absolute violation.
“As police services, we started enforcing the law. We did not make the law, but we do enforce the law and we will have to execute arrest warrants and seize dogs and take action against such dog owners.
“I would strongly encourage people to be compliant if that were the situation with their own dogs because one of the tests that is done on a dog or an owner (in court) is that the dog is not aggressive, but also that the owner is fit and responsible and also not aggressive.
“So if any of these things were not adhered to, there would be no other option for a court but to destroy the dog.”
ACC Hobrough said if officers encounter resistance, they will take “proportionate action with the minimum use of force” to seize dogs.
According to the RSPCA, the government said last week that 30,000 dogs had been registered and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had been contacted for an updated figure.
The total number of XL bullies, estimated by animal group, is between 50,000 and 100,000, the RSPCA added.
But the RSPCA has previously said the measures were “not the answer” and warned of a “major risk” that rescue centers and vets will not be able to cope with a likely increase in demand.
While the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) warned of higher abandonment rates and said the new rules could lead to a 'postcode lottery' for vets who can help owners meet the requirements.
The dogs were added to the Dangerous Dogs Act on October 31 last year, giving owners two months to prepare for the first phase of restrictions.
People with dangerously out-of-control dogs can be jailed for up to 14 years, banned from owning animals, and have their pets put down.
Dr. Samantha Gaines, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “It is so important that if owners expect their dog to be an XL Bully, they start the exemption process as soon as possible.
We urge XL Bully owners to start the exemption process now and not leave it too late.
Doctor Samantha Gaines
“Although the first part of the ban came into effect on December 31, 2023 and includes a requirement that XL Bullies be muzzled and on a leash in a public place, existing owners have until January 31 at noon to apply for the exemption that puts them in allows to keep their dog legally so that they are safe.
“We urge XL Bully owners to start the exemption process now and not leave it too late.
“While there are ongoing legal challenges, we do not know when they will occur or what the outcome will be, but as it stands now.
“From February 1, owners of XL Bullies will be required to obtain an exemption certificate to legally own them.”
Becky Thwaites, head of public affairs at Blue Cross, said: “For thousands of concerned owners, the clock is ticking: from February 1, 2024, it will be illegal to own an XL bully unless it is on the Index of Exempt Dogs.”
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What is the definition of an XL bully?
The American bully received recognition as a breed from the US United Kennel Club in 2013.
It has been called a 'natural extension' of the better known American Pit Bull Terrier.
The muscular one dogs have been crossed with other breeds, including English Bulldogs, Olde English Bulldogs and American Bulldogs.
XL refers to the size category for dogs, of which there are four: pocket, standard, classic and XL.
XLs are usually about 33-50 cm tall and weigh 20-60 kg.
Are XL bullies illegal in Britain?
Yes, the American Bully XL is banned in Great Britain.
It comes next Interior Minister Suella Braverman revealed last year that she wanted to ban the breed.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a video on X, formally known as Twitter: “These dogs are dangerous and I want to reassure the public that we will take all necessary steps to keep them safe.”
Changes to the law will be phased in over a number of months and will make it illegal to breed, sell, advertise, trade, donate, rehome, abandon or allow XL bully dogs to roam in England and Wales.
Under the laws that have been put in place parliament on October 31, it will also be illegal to own an XL Bully from February 1, 2024 unless it is on an exempt dog list.
The new guidelines do not apply to Northern Ireland or Scotland.
As of 2021, the breed is responsible for more than 70 percent of all animals dog-related deaths in the United Kingdom.
Braverman ordered urgent advice on the next variety another attack on a child that happened on September 9, 2023.
Write on social media After the incident, Braverman said: “This is terrible. This is a clear and deadly danger to our communities, especially children. We can't continue like this.
“I have given urgent advice on banning it.”
The following breeds are banned in Great Britain:
Dangerous dog law explained
After eleven horrific attacks in 1991, Home Secretary Kenneth Baker vowed to “rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs” by introducing the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The law is often considered controversial because it focuses on a dog's breed or appearance rather than an individual dog's behavior, and fails to curb the rise of dog attacks.
According to the RSPCAMore than a third of people killed by dogs since the law was introduced were attacked by legal breeds.