Thank you to all those who have contacted me about the XL Bully.

I recognise this is an emotive debate. We are a nation of animal lovers and pets are part of our families. I am also concerned for anyone impacted by tragic incidents with dangerous dogs.

We must ensure dogs are not left or encouraged to become a danger to themselves, their owners, other animals or other people. It means owners must be responsible and care for their dogs in a humane and respectful way.

I do not believe we can base any kind of ban solely on a dog’s appearance. In my view, the current approach to dog control in this country is misguided and does not protect people adequately. I believe safety must be our top priority but without unnecessarily punishing dog owners or harming dogs that are not necessarily a risk.

I am deeply concerned that attacks have increased since the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 came into force. Action is needed quickly to improve dog control legislation.

As you will know, from 1 February 2024, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully unless it has been granted an exemption. From 31 December 2023, it will be against the law to sell, abandon or let stray, give away, breed from or have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.

When implementing this ban, the Government must consider how to ensure dogs are not put down when they cannot be rehomed, how to avoid a sudden and steep increase in abandonment and stray dogs, and how new rules are being communicated to dog owners.

Additionally, the new XL Bully definition is broad. I worry about the number of healthy, loved dogs which will be captured by it. Animal rescues and veterinarians are already under considerable strain, and there are major concerns about this ban’s impact on them.

There is much to do to get this right from public safety and animal welfare perspectives. I encourage the Government to engage with owners, campaigners and stakeholders.

More widely, I believe we need to look again at breed-specific legislation. I urge the UK Government to commit to a full review of dog control legislation.

The transition period for owners of XL Bully dog breeds began on 14th November 2023. During the transition period, which runs until 31 January 2024, owners who wish to keep their dogs
must apply to an exemption scheme. Applications for exemption certificates are now open – please see here: Apply for a Certificate of Exemption to keep an XL Bully dog – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Further information on this transition period can be found here: Transition period for XL Bully owners begins – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities caused by XL Bully dogs, the government has added this breed to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
From 31 December 2023 it will be against the law to:

• sell an XL Bully dog
• abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray
• give away an XL Bully dog
• breed from an XL Bully dog
• have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.

From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless your dog has a Certificate of Exemption.

The Government have published advice on what you can do to prepare for the ban on XL Bully type dog breeds.
Prepare for the ban on XL Bully dogs – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The RSPCA have also produced guidance in regards to the ban on XL Bully dogs, which can be found here: American XL Bullies (rspca.org.uk)

Thank you once again to all those who have contacted me.