Animal rescue charity warn of troubling time as XL bully ban comes into force
You must register your dog with the government by 12 pm today.
From 1 February, it will be illegal to own an XL Bully unless exempted - so the charities such as Oaktree Animal Shelter in Carlisle and the RSPCA are reminding owners to ensure they have registered their dog under the exemption scheme so they can keep them legally.
Online applications to exempt an XL Bully close at noon on Wednesday 31 January. It will be illegal to own an XL Bully in England and Wales from the following day if the exemption process has not been completed.
If an owner can't show their certificate or proof of application then they are in breach of the law and their dog could be seized, put to sleep or they could face a criminal record and a fine.
The new legislation also leaves animal shelters in a tricky situation too though.
Shelters can register the dogs under their name, however they will not be able to rehome them. This has led to welfare concerns as some facilities may not be able to care for a dog of that size, with so many restrictions, long term.
Caroline Johnson is the general manager for Oaktree Animal Shelter in Carlisle, she said: "Unfortunately rescue shelters have worked so hard to try and rehome before the deadline in December.
"Where that's not been possible some have been considering whether they could exempt the dog. That comes with it's own challenges though.
"Some charities are having to make some really difficult decisions, that nobody wants to make.
"There have been people coming to us but we are tied as to what we can do. If we can't take them legally we have to abide by charity law and do our best to support owners in their decision making and how we can help them through the process."
When discuss the build up to the change in law, Caroline also highlighted some confusion that people experienced when trying to understand the legislation.
She added: "We can only go on the DEFRA guidance for what is an XL bully because there isn't a standard Kennel Club recognition.
"A lot of people have come to us asking 'is my dog and XL bully' and our advice has been to read the standards through DEFRA and look at the height measurement first.
"There is confusion and concern, because what had to happen very quickly was a breed had to be defined."
RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: "We’re all heartbroken that we’ve reached this point and, as members of the Dog Control Coalition, we’ve been working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to try to work with the UK Government to find an alternative to this ban as well as to minimise its harm on dog welfare and human well being. But, sadly, from 1 February it will be illegal to own any XL Bullies without an exemption certificate and it is also illegal to rehome, sell, gift, breed or abandon one.
"That’s why we’re urgently reminding owners of dogs who could be identified as an XL Bully under the UK Government’s new legislation to apply for an exemption certificate, even if they aren't sure if their dog is an XL bully and are only doing so as a precaution."