🚨 XL BULLY OWNERS 🚨
It is likely that you have already heard the incredibly sad news today regarding the XL Bully. If not, laws have been laid in Parliament today which results with the XL Bully being added to the list of banned dog breeds under the dangerous dogs act.
This will be enforced from the 31st of December this year. This means that the XL Bully will be ILLEGAL to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allowed to stray in England and Wales. This also means that from the 31st of December, it is compulsory to keep your XL Bully on the lead as well as muzzled in public at all times.
From the 1st of February 2024, it will then become ILLEGAL to own an XL Bully if it is not registered on the Index of Exempt Dogs. You will also need third party liability insurance and your dog must be microchipped with up to date details. Microchipping dogs is already a legal requirement for all breeds. The government have staggered these dates in order to give XL Bully owners time to prepare for the ban but in reality this is not much time at all.
You must start taking action now in order to protect your dog. It is vital that you start working towards muzzle training your dogs as well as lead-walking to ensure they are under control. Please note, any dog that is not under control in public whether that is a Chihuahua or a Great Dane is a criminal offence and can result in the euthanasia of your dog (under the dangerous dogs act).
It will also be a requirement to have your XL Bully neutered and there is a deadline to this:
– If your dog is older than 1 year old on 31st January 2024, you have until the 30th June 2024 to have your dog neutered.
– If your dog is less than 1 year old by 31st January 2024, it must be neutered by 31st December 2024.
If you already have behavioural struggles with your XL Bully, we urge you to address this now and we strongly recommend that you work with a dog trainer and/or behaviourist to address any issues you may have.
Given the release of the “official definition of an XL Bully” released by the government, it is not just the XL Bully that is at risk (see link attached for this). Any dog that may fall under the physical characteristics listed could be at risk here. To us, you are looking at the likes of your Mastiff types such as the Cane Corso and Presa Canario and large American Bulldogs. As an owner it is your responsibility to keep your dog under control at all times regardless of the breed, but we urge clients to be even more vigilant at this time and particularly with your larger breeds.
If you own an XL Bully and you do not comply with these rules, your dog will be seized and potentially euthanised.
Although this is devastating news for XL Bully’s and their owners, we must help educate. As a team here at St Clair Veterinary Care, we want you to know that we are deeply saddened by these new laws. Unfortunately we all must comply with the laws enforced.
We are awaiting guidance from the government to advise XL Bully owners on how to register their dogs on the Index of Exempt Dogs register. When we know, we will provide you with an update.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the team on 01670457271 or email at info@stclairvetcare.com .
