Desperate XL bully dog house owners have fought again in opposition to a ban that will drive them to place their animals down, with exemption pleas hovering to greater than 21,000 in just some weeks.
The ban was brought in after the variety of folks killed in vicious assaults by the breed soared from a median of three a yr to 10 in 2022, with 4 of them youngsters.
Disturbing movies additionally emerged of the animals chasing and mauling members of the general public in a collection of devastating assaults, usually inflicting severe damage.
But house owners argue that including XL bullies to the listing banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act is unfair and that the unhealthy dealing with of a minority has let down the breed.
Responding to a parliamentary query from impartial MP Julian Knight, Mark Spencer, a minister on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), mentioned that as of January 8, there had been 21,277 functions for a certificates of exemption in England and Wales.
“These applications are still being processed and may include duplicates, errors or ineligible applications,” he added.
People nonetheless have till January 31 to make the £92.40 utility earlier than the ban comes into force on February 1, that means there may nonetheless be hundreds extra but.
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On December 31, it turned unlawful to breed, promote, abandon, or rehome XL bullies, or enable them to grow to be stray.
Between now and the start of the ban, present XL bully house owners should preserve the dogs on a lead and muzzled always in public.
If they’re granted a certificates of exemption, they need to adjust to extra restrictions reminiscent of guaranteeing the animals are neutered and having third-party legal responsibility insurance coverage.
When the ban was announced in November, Defra mentioned it was “taking quick and decisive action to protect the public from tragic dog attacks”.
However, animal charity the Blue Cross has mentioned: “We continue to be concerned that the Dangerous Dogs Act penalises innocent dogs.
“Heartbreakingly, charities like ours cannot now rehome XL bullies, even when they’re well-behaved and well-socialised.”
Scotland has introduced that it’ll usher in its personal XL bully ban sooner or later. The restriction doesn’t at the moment apply in Northern Ireland.
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