It will probably be unlawful to personal an American XL bully from 1 February subsequent 12 months, except the animal is on an exempt record.
By Dylan Donnelly, information reporter
Applications have opened for Britons to register their XL bully dogs for exemption earlier than the breed is made unlawful.
Owners who need to hold their dogs have to use to an exemption scheme, or select to have their dog euthanised and apply for compensation.
It will be illegal to own an XL bully from 1 February next year, except the animal is on an exempt record, referred to as the Index of Exempted Dogs.
They have to be registered by the tip of January.
Should the dogs be authorised, house owners will probably be compelled to adjust to strict necessities – resembling dogs being muzzled and stored on a lead in public, in addition to being microchipped and neutered.
Dogs greater than a 12 months old on 31 January have to be neutered by the tip of June. Those underneath 12 months old have to be neutered by 31 December 2024.
Owners with out a certificates of exemption will face a legal file and a limiteless nice if they’re discovered to be in possession of the breed as of 1 February, and their canine might be seized.
In September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared the breed a “danger to communities” after a man died in a “suspected” attack by two of the dogs in Stonnall, Staffordshire.
And a lady informed Sky News that she needed tighter legal guidelines on the dogs after her six-year-old son was attacked by her XL bully.
She warned the ban was not “match for function” as it might not “defend the youngsters which might be at home with the dogs”.
“Every canine proprietor on this nation ought to need to have a licence, each canine ought to need to bear some type of coaching in order that anyone aside from the canine proprietor has witnessed that canine and seen the kind of temperament they’re,” she added.
“I believe there ought to be much more laws in place.”
Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss stated: “It is necessary that XL bully house owners learn the steering and take all the required steps.
“This contains making use of for a certificates of exemption if you wish to hold your canine and guaranteeing they’re muzzle skilled by the tip of the 12 months, as your canine will must be muzzled and on a lead in public after 31 December 2023.
“XL breeders ought to have additionally now stopped breeding their dogs and I’d advise all house owners to make an appointment along with your vet to get your XL bully neutered as quickly as doable.”
