Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Tuesday 6th February 2024

Following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities caused by XL Bully type dogs, the Government has acted decisively to ban this breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

We have seen an increase in dog attacks in recent years, including those causing injuries and fatalities, with the XL Bully being disproportionally involved in this rise. That is why we have taken decisive action to add XL Bully breed types to the list of breeds prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. We firmly believe that this approach is needed to reduce the risks to the public by this type.

The ban on XL Bully breed types has come into force in two stages, to help current owners adapt to the new laws.

Since 31 December 2023, all owners of XL Bully breed types must comply with strict conditions. This includes ensuring they put their dog on a lead and muzzle in public. Breeding, selling, exchanging, gifting, abandoning, or allowing these dogs to stray is now banned.

Since 1 February 2024 it has become a criminal offence to be in possession of an XL Bully in England and Wales unless the dog is covered by a Certificate of Exemption. Owners who have a certificate of exemption need to adhere to strict rules for the life of a dog, including holding valid third-party public liability insurance, and for the dog to be microchipped and neutered by a certain date.

We have provided an extended period for owners to have their dogs neutered. Dogs that are less than one year old on 31 January 2024, will need to be neutered by 31 December 2024. Dogs that are older than one year old on 31 January 2024, must be neutered by 30 June 2024. Further guidance on neutering is available on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/confirm-an-xl-bully-dog-has-been-neutered).

Furthermore, we introduced an additional exemption scheme that allowed established rescue and rehoming organisations to apply for a Certificate of Exemption for any dogs that they held on or before 30 December 2023. This means that they can continue to keep these dogs once the ban comes into force on the 1 February 2024.

We consider that this staged approach has given owners and organisations sufficient time to prepare and so we do not intend to delay the ban.

The Government has acted quickly to develop and implement the ban on XL Bully type dogs to reduce the risks to the public by this dog type. We have carefully balanced this against the need to give existing owners and keepers sufficient time to comply with the new restrictions such as training their dogs to use a muzzle and applying for an exemption to keep their dog. It is for this reason that the restrictions have come into force at different points giving owners an extended period of time in which to meet the conditions. We have no plans to delay the ban by 18 months.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/650474)