UK – The British government has decided to add American Bully XL dogs to the list of banned dog breeds from 31 December.

The decision has sparked controversy.

The ban comes into force on 1 February 2024, making the keeping, trading and breeding of the dogs illegal. Until then, XL Bully dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. Dog owners have until the end of January to register their animals to ensure they are kept legally. An exemption for the dog is only possible if the dog is on the list of licensed dogs and certain requirements, such as microchip implantation and castration, are met. Violations of these rules can lead to unlimited penalties, fines and even confiscation of the dog.

To legally own an XL Bully, owners must take out insurance to ensure that the dog will not injure other people. In addition, owners must be over 16 years of age and show the exemption licence to the police or the municipal dog warden on request. Changes of address or the death of the dog must be reported to the register of exempt dogs.

A key point of controversy is the unclear definition of the breed, which leaves it up to owners to prove that their dog does not fall under the ban. In addition to the tight timeframe, this poses a further challenge for implementation.

The government’s decision was met with widespread opposition, not only from owners but also from animal welfare organisations. The Dog Control Coalition has criticised the ban, arguing that a breed-based ban is unreasonable and calling for stronger prosecution of owners of aggressive dogs.

Particularly in connection with the speed of the ban, there are fears that the police and authorities are not sufficiently trained to ensure that only the dogs actually affected are covered by the measures.

The government’s decision to clarify the breed is interesting in this context.

The characteristics can be found at: www.gov.uk

It should be noted that the characteristics do not apply to the American Bully XL alone, but in some cases show a large overlap with other breeds. Legislation also considers Bully species and mixed breeds to be potentially dangerous, as they may also have been bred for aggression.

American Bully XL dogs are now on the list of banned breeds alongside American Pitbull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brasileiros in the Dangerous Dogs Act. The decision is based on an increasing number of sometimes fatal bite attacks.

The debate about the ban on American Bully XL dogs is likely to continue, as both owners and animal welfare organisations are questioning the necessity and effectiveness of these drastic measures.

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