The RSPCA has confirmed it’s nonetheless rehousing American XL Bully dogs, as an animal activist warned of a bigger, “more aggressive” stray inhabitants of the breed.
Rishi Sunak introduced in September that there could be a ban on American XL Bullies by the tip of the yr after the dogs, which aren’t at the moment outlined as a breed within the UK, had been linked to 10 deaths, together with three youngsters, within the UK since 2021.
Dog’s Trust has confirmed that it’s going to now not rehome XL Bully dogs after a lady in her 60s was mauled in Norfolk by a canine she had adopted from the charity. However, different centres, together with the RSPCA and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, are persevering with to seek out potential homeowners – even warning they’re in “a race against time” earlier than XL Bullies change into unlawful to personal.
An RSPCA spokesperson informed i they’re nonetheless “lining up” new properties for XL Bullies, including: “Positively, adopters have already been lined up for two this week.”
The charity added: “For every dog in our care – regardless of breed – we consider their physical health and behaviour, and the unique circumstances of the adopter and their ability to provide for the animal’s welfare needs, so we can match pets to the best possible home.”
The RSPCA has warned that it “and the rest of the animal welfare sector” anticipate “abandonments” of XL Bullies to rise as soon as the ban on the breed is enforced.
The charity has not but recorded a rise in reviews of abandonment however mentioned it was “really worried” there could be an increase in 2024.
Meanwhile, an animal activist in Colchester, Essex – the place the native authority has mentioned XL Bullies will now not be collected by canine wardens attributable to “health and safety concerns” – informed i she “100 per cent” anticipated the variety of strays deserted on the streets to rise.
“My general fear is that these stray dogs could then be more likely to attack, due to hunger and them not being well-trained,” Saffron Davis, a trainee canine coach mentioned.
“If those stray dogs breed on the street, that population will just get bigger and bigger.”
A spokesperson for Colchester Council mentioned: “Due to health and safety concerns for our officers, we have made the difficult decision not to accept XL Bully type dogs from vets.
“Our officers, although very experienced, are not trained to handle such powerful dogs should they become aggressive.”
Ms Davis mentioned she understood a warden from Colchester Council had been attacked by an XL Bully, though the council didn’t verify this.
The council mentioned: “Over the past four weeks, the council has collected five XL Bullies that have been directly handed into Colchester vets as stray dogs. These dogs have been chipped, but the chips are not registered.
“We believe that the dogs are not contained strays, but are being taken to vets by breeders who, due to the recent publicity, have been unable to sell their dogs.”
Some rescue centres, together with St Francis Dogs Home in Newquay, Cornwall, mentioned that they had already seen an increase within the variety of bulldog breeds being deserted.
The RSPCA mentioned: “Stray dogs are a matter for the local authority dog warden who have a statutory duty to collect them and we would urge this to continue.
“The recent incidents are deeply distressing and our thoughts are with all those involved and affected.
“The biggest priority for everyone involved is to protect the public – but banning the breed will sadly not stop these types of incidents recurring.
“We are still waiting for the UK Government to confirm how it is defining an American XL Bully, and how the ban will work, leaving owners and welfare groups in limbo.
“We are steadfastly opposed to breed-specific legislation and this forthcoming ban, but owners and rescue centres need clarity so we are calling on the UK Government to release this information urgently.”
Ministers have warned that homeowners might face having to use for an exemption certificates if the regulation change comes into impact, and that homeowners could be committing a felony offence if they didn’t establish themselves earlier than any ban is available in.
The Government has not proposed a timeline for the ban, however many homeowners have since dumped their dogs with rescue centres or requested for vets to place them to sleep.
As they aren’t but a recognised breed, the variety of XL Bullies within the UK is unknown, although specialists have estimated it to be within the hundreds.
Following Mr Sunak’s announcement on 15 September, the Government appointed a panel of specialists to provide you with a authorized definition of the XL Bully in order that it may be added to the record of banned breeds underneath the Dangerous Dogs Act.
At the time, ministers mentioned present homeowners didn’t have to take any motion, “however, if XL Bully owners do not come forward during the transition period, they will be committing a criminal offence if they are subsequently found to be keeping one of these dogs.
“Further detail on next steps for developing a ban and information for owners will be provided in due course.”
