The XL Bully ban is taking a ‘heavy toll’ on homeowners, rescue centres and veterinary groups – who could possibly be confronted with having to now put wholesome dogs to sleep – says the RSPCA.
XL Bully dogs need to be muzzled and on a lead when out in public underneath the brand new guidelines in power from New Year’s Eve.
It is now unlawful to breed, promote, or give away an XL Bully – with the regulation additionally now making use of to rehoming charities which had till now been permitted to proceed looking for homeowners for these of their care.
The authorities’s resolution that the breed will now be affected by the Dangerous Dogs Act additionally means present homeowners have a month left to use for an exemption certificates that’ll allow them to maintain their animals after February 1.
But Dr Samantha Gaines, canine welfare knowledgeable on the RSPCA, says with rising reviews of dogs being surrendered or deserted, the charity fears because the deadline hits, issues will worsen.
She defined: “The ban on XL Bully dogs not only remains devastating for so many dogs, it is also taking a heavy toll on owners, on rescue centre staff who have grown close to dogs in their care and to veterinary teams who face the prospect of being asked to put to sleep healthy dogs whose behaviour poses no risk.
“There is a huge danger rescue centres and the veterinary profession will not be able to cope with the demands put on them by this law.
“We urgently need more information and support from the government so we can help support owners and dogs that will be affected by this ban but we will also need help and support to get through this too.”
The authorities moved to checklist XL Bullies underneath the Dangerous Dogs Act after what it has described as a ‘concerning rise in fatal attacks’.
But the brand new guidelines have been met with upset and confusion by homeowners and animal lovers in addition to organisations just like the RSPCA.
Here’s the latest on the ban:
The definition of an XL Bully
American bully XL dogs are associated to the pitbull terrier, from which they had been initially bred. However, nowadays they’re additionally prone to be crossbred with different breeds equivalent to American bulldogs and Olde English bulldogges, that are taller and heavier than their English counterpart.
Owners who aren’t clear as as to whether their animal could also be an XL Bully kind have been supplied recommendation from official definitions printed on the government website, put collectively when the deliberate ban was first introduced.
Classification, it says, includes checking the canine’s bodily traits however this may be achieved by homeowners and doesn’t require the dogs to be taken away for inspection.
However, the RSPCA is amongst these to name into query what it says are ‘broad legal definitions’. There are additionally issues surrounding puppies and dogs not but totally grown, who some argue can’t be adequately assessed underneath that standards till ‘fully mature’.
Dr Gaines added: “While we are doing all we can to reassure owners, there remains confusion around how best to interpret the government’s definition of an XL Bully.
“While it is now clearer that minimum height is a mandatory requirement for a dog to be defined as an XL Bully, there has been no guidance to help owners understand what is meant by a substantial number of the other characteristics being used to decide whether or not a dog is considered ‘type’.”
Exempt dogs
Households who want to maintain their dogs have till the top of January 2024 to register them with the federal government and apply for an exemption certificates.
More than 4,000 of those paperwork have been issued to date, say ministers, with most arriving inside per week.
Owners holding their XL Bully pets should now adjust to strict necessities. Alongside the dogs being muzzled and stored on a lead in public, they have to be microchipped and in addition neutered by June 30 if an older canine – or by the top of the 12 months if the animal is underneath a 12 months.
From February 1, 2024, it is going to turn out to be unlawful to personal an XL Bully canine if it’s not registered with the Index of Exempted Dogs. Any proprietor with out a Certificate of Exemption for his or her animal will face a legal document and a vast high quality if they’re discovered to be holding an XL Bully kind, and their canine could possibly be seized.
Owners who as an alternative select to surrender their animal to be euthanised, says DEFRA, can be supported and helped with compensation prices.
Those in shelters
Until December 31, the RSPCA and different organisations had been capable of proceed rehoming XL Bully kind dogs. But now the brand new regulation is in power this has to cease.
A message on the RSPCA web site explains: “Until December 31, we and other rehoming organisations are able to continue rehoming XL Bully types. After this time it will become illegal to rehome to members of the public and we are seeking further information from the UK Government about what this means. This is a difficult time for our staff who have been caring for dogs who are likely to be affected.
“We’re concerned about what support will be offered by government to rescue centres to fulfil the requirements of this ban, which will be very difficult for staff and vets to carry out.”
The Dog Control Coalition – made up of organisations together with the RSPCA, British Veterinary Association, Dogs Trust and Battersea – had known as for a delay to the ban.
In a letter to the Prime Minister on December 20 the coalition appealed for homeowners, rescue centre employees and vet groups to be given extra time ‘to do the best for the dogs’ of their care.
It wrote: “We strongly oppose banning any breed, as it is unfair on responsible owners and their dogs, and has historically proven to be ineffective in keeping the public safe.
“However, in the absence of a decision to reverse the ban, we are calling on the Government to extend the unnecessarily short deadline for the ban to come into force so owners, rescue centre staff and vet teams can act to do the best for the dogs in our care.”
