Desperate XL bully canine house owners have fought again towards a ban that may power them to place their animals down, with exemption pleas hovering to greater than 21,000 in just some weeks.
The ban was introduced in after the variety of individuals killed in vicious assaults by the breed soared from a median of three a 12 months 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 sequence of devastating assaults, usually inflicting critical harm.
But house owners argue that including XL bullies to the checklist banned beneath 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 unbiased 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 purposes 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 software earlier than the ban comes into power on February 1, which means there may nonetheless be 1000’s extra but.
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On December 31, it grew to become unlawful to breed, promote, abandon, or rehome XL bullies, or enable them to develop into stray.
Between now and the beginning of the ban, present XL bully house owners should hold the dogs on a lead and muzzled always in public.
If they’re granted a certificates of exemption, they have to adjust to further restrictions equivalent to guaranteeing the animals are neutered and having third-party legal responsibility insurance coverage.
When the ban was introduced 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 herald its personal XL bully ban sooner or later. The restriction doesn’t at present apply in Northern Ireland.
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