The UK government will soon be introducing a ban on owning an XL Bully.
However, Brits who own one of the dogs are able to register for an exemption.
Following a number of incidents this year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously announced the government would ban the American XL Bully breed by the end of this year.
It was confirmed at the end of October that the new rules will come into force from 31 December.
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This will make it illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, rehome, abandon, or allow XL Bully dogs to stray in England and Wales.
A law changed in Parliament also means from New Years Eve, owners will have to muzzle the dogs when out in public – it’s advised those with the dogs train them and get them used to this as soon as possible.
The big, major rule will arrive from 1 February 2024, when it will be illegal to own an XL Bully dog.
However, owners can apply to an exemption scheme, called the Index of Exempted Dogs – this doesn’t come particularly cheaply, it will cost £92.40.
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A court will approve this if it believes the dog isn’t a danger to the public.
Sky News reports that if owners do not wish to keep their dog or register to be exempt, they can choose to ‘have their dog euthanised and apply for compensation’.
If an XL Bully is approved for the Index of Exempted Dogs, there are strict requirements owners must comply with.
These will include muzzling the dogs and keeping them on a lead in public as well as being microchipped and neutered.
Any of the dogs more than a year old on 31 January must be neutered by 30 June.
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And those less than 12 months old must be neutered by 31 December 2024.
If an XL Bully owner does not have a certificate of exemption, they will face a criminal record and an unlimited fine if they are found to be in possession of the dog as of 1 February.
Their dog could also be seized – even if there’s been no complaints of dangerous behaviour made against them.
Following a number of attacks involving the dog breed over the summer, Sunak described the XL Bully as a ‘danger to our communities’.
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Government data previously revealed there are more than 3,000 banned dogs living in homes in England, Scotland and Wales.
The BBC obtained data from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which showed 3,499 banned dogs are registered, and the vast majority of them in England.
Most of the dogs are pit bull terriers and can be taken from owners unless placed on the Index of Exempted Dogs.
In the UK, the Dangerous Dogs Act banned list include pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo argentino and the fila brasileiro, with the XL Bully to be added.
Jess Battison