- By Paul Heaney and Jordan Davies
- BBC Wales Investigates
Reports of harmful dogs might double after XL bully ban comes into pressure, police warn
Banning XL bully dogs might trigger harmful canine stories to double, a senior police officer has stated.
Gwent Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hobrough stated he additionally appreciated “concern” over irresponsible breeders transferring to different dogs.
The UK authorities stated the brand new laws would shield the general public.
The resolution adopted plenty of high-profile assaults – some deadly – involving the breed.
According to the phrases of the ban, dogs will must be muzzled and saved on a lead in public.
It may even be unlawful to re-home, promote, purchase or switch possession of an XL bully to a different person.
Owners who want to hold their animals should apply to the exemption scheme earlier than 1 February or can select to have their canine euthanised and apply for compensation.
ACC Hobrough, who can be the damaging dogs lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, stated he anticipated the variety of stories of harmful dogs to “double” after the ban takes full impact.
“We have gotten the power to have the ability to cater for that demand, however that’s one thing that we have to remain very dynamic in relation to assessing,” he stated.
He stated the police have been already monitoring what the subsequent so-called “standing” canine is perhaps.
ACC Mark Hobrough says police are monitoring what the subsequent “standing” canine is perhaps
Research by BBC Wales Investigates suggests offences below the Dangerous Dogs Act, the place a canine is discovered to be dangerously uncontrolled, are rising.
Data from 27 out of 43 police pressure areas in England and Wales confirmed there have been 15,350 offences in 2022 – up 37% rise since 2019, when there have been 11,183.
The UK authorities beforehand stated it was taking “swift and decisive motion to guard the general public”.
It additionally stated it was working carefully with the police, canine and veterinary specialists and animal welfare teams, to implement the laws.
But the Dog Control Coalition – which incorporates the Dogs Trust, the British Veterinary Association and Hope Rescue – beforehand advised the BBC breed-specific bans have been ineffective.
Vanessa Waddon says canine breeders ought to be licensed and traceable
Vanessa Waddon from Hope Rescue, a charity primarily based in Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, stated ensuring any canine breeder was licensed and “traceable” would have an even bigger affect.
She stated the exemption certificates would “not handle poor possession”.
“All that is going to occur is that these people who do need to personal a harmful or intimidating canine, they are going to nonetheless be capable of do this – they’re simply going to make use of a unique breed,” she stated.
“We actually do really feel that (the ban) shouldn’t be going to have the affect that the federal government suppose it may.
“Some type of accountable canine possession take a look at that confirmed that you just have been a accountable proprietor, you can hold your canine safely below management, I feel these kind of measures mixed actually would have an effect on the variety of canine bites that we’re seeing.
“But all of that does take money, I feel that is the place licensing may very well be helpful, however provided that we are able to ringfence the revenue into enforcement.”
ACC Hobrough stated it was “completely” a priority that breeders have been transferring on to different – doubtlessly bigger and extra highly effective – varieties of canine.
He added: “It’s actually vital that members of the general public who see dogs that they are involved about inside their very own neighbourhoods report them, in order that we are able to undertake assessments on whether or not the dogs are secure throughout the neighborhood.”
