Law comes into force
XL Bullies can now be euthanized in England and Wales
February 1, 2024, 8:28 a.m
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Strict laws surrounding the XL Bully mixed breed now apply in England and Wales. Owners must apply for exemptions and meet extensive requirements. Otherwise, your animals will end up in heaven and you could end up in prison.
The numbers speak against the animals. Three fatal dog attacks annually were recorded in the UK between 2001 and 2021. Since then there have been 23 in two years. And behind most cases are so-called XL Bullies, a mixed breed that goes back to a type of pit bull terrier.
The British government was alarmed and acted with full force. She quickly recognized the previously unclassified dogs as a separate breed – to ban them immediately. This has consequences for tens of thousands: from now on, XL Bullies are only allowed in England and Wales under strict conditions being held. Anyone who owns the dogs illegally is committing a crime.
For an exemption, which had to be applied for by Wednesday lunchtime, it is essential that the dog be neutered by the end of June. For puppies up to one year old, the deadline is the end of 2024. The owners need liability insurance for dogs, and the animals must have a microchip. Dog owners face a long prison sentence of up to 14 years if their animals attack.
Owners receive £200 compensation
XL Bullies have been required to be kept on a leash and wear a muzzle in public since the end of December. Breeding and selling are prohibited. If you don’t want to meet the strict requirements, you can have your animal euthanized – for compensation of up to 200 pounds (around 235 euros). More than 150 applications have been received so far.
It is cases like that of ten-year-old Jack from Wales that the government uses to explain its actions. The boy was visiting a school friend – then the family dog, an XL Bully, attacked him. Jack died.
“We have kept our promise to introduce this important measure to protect public safety and we expect all XL Bully owners to comply with the strict requirements,” said Environment Minister Steve Barclay.
Scotland wants to follow suit with a similar regulation on February 23rd. There are also cases in Germany: at the end of January, a man died in Geesthacht near Hamburg after being attacked by his XL Bully.
At the beginning of the ban there was a hail of warnings and reminders. Anyone caught keeping them illegally should follow the police’s instructions. The owner’s behavior could influence a court decision to euthanize the animal, Mark Hobrough from the National Police Chiefs’ Council told the British PA news agency.
Tens of thousands of animals in England and Wales
But questions remain, for example about the number of animals. In the autumn, the Ministry of the Environment estimated the population in England and Wales at 10,000 animals. By shortly before the deadline, 30,000 applications for exceptions had been received. And animal rights activists now estimate there are 50,000 to 100,000 dogs.
The government’s actions have met with a lot of criticism. “The ban on XL Bullies is not only devastating for so many dogs, but is also taking a heavy toll on owners,” said Samantha Gaines from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). She also pointed to animal shelter employees who have grown fond of the dogs in their care, as well as veterinarians who could now be asked to euthanize healthy dogs whose behavior does not pose a risk.
“There will certainly be XL Bully owners who have not yet gone through the exemption process, and that is obviously a concern,” Gaines said. Therefore, resources must be focused on those who keep dogs to threaten, scare and intimidate people.
The Dog Control Coalition made similar comments. The alliance of clubs, organizations and animal shelters emphasized that no ban would be able to prevent such attacks. “A complete overhaul of existing dog control laws is the only way to address the causes of the tragic incidents of recent years.”
For weeks, British media have been reporting examples of those affected like Ellie Lonsdale from West Yorkshire. Her XL Bully Frankie is the gentlest creature, the 23-year-old recently said on the BBC podcast “5 Minutes on”. “Any dog can hurt, it’s not just a particular breed if you train them wrong,” Lonsdale said. She doesn’t even want to imagine what would happen if she couldn’t afford all the exemption requirements – like some others. “It’s heartbreaking. Frankie isn’t just an animal. He’s family.”