More than 4,000 XL bully owners apply for exemption from looming breed ban as the UK’s chief vet urges more to come forward

• From December 31, XL bully dogs will no longer be allowed in public places 
• What will happen to YOUR XL bully? Contact [email protected] 

Thousands of XL bully owners have been told they do not need to put their dogs down when the ban comes into force in the New Year.

From February 1, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England, unless you have an exemption certificate. From December 31, the dogs will no longer be allowed in public places unless they are muzzled and put on a lead.

Breeding, selling, advertising, rehoming, abandoning and allowing one of the dogs to stray will also be illegal in England and Wales from that date.

There are just six weeks left for owners to get an exemption, which can only be obtained if a household agrees to comply with a strict set of rules, such as microchipping the animals. 

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has received more than 4,000 applications from owners requesting an exemption to the upcoming ban.

There are less than two weeks to go before the first in a series of new rules to clamp down on XL bullies

A complete ban on people owning XL bullies will then come into force on February 1, 2024, unless the owner applies before the end of January for an exemption

What is an XL bully? 

The dog is not a recognised Kennel Club breed and it comes from the bloodline of the American Pit Bull Terrier, which are banned in the UK. 

An official definition of the Xl bullies has been published by Defra, with features including a ‘heavy, large and broad’ head and a ‘blocky or slightly squared’ muzzle.

The dog is also described as being ‘heavily-muscled’ with a ‘large, blocky body giving impression of great power for size’, and a glossy, smooth and close coat.

An adult male is around 20in (51cm) at the withers and an adult female is 19in (48cm) at the withers – which is the highest point of body immediately behind the neck where height is measured.

The breed also has a  heavy, large, broad head. The length from the tip of the nose to a well-defined stop (indentation between muzzle and the head) is equal to around a third of the length from the stop to the back of the head.

The neck is muscular, slightly arched and tapers from the shoulders to the base of the skull.

The shoulder blades are long and well-muscled. Its upper arm length is about equal to the length of the shoulder blades and joined at a 35 to 45 angle to the ground.

An XL bully’s body is large, blocky and heavily-muscled with a broad, deep chest and well sprung ribs.

The tail is medium length and low set and the coat is smooth and glossy.   

According to Sky News, the ‘majority’ have been approved.

A Defra spokesman said: ‘The majority of applications are successful and the majority of successful applicants are receiving their certificates in less than a week.’

It comes after the Government announced restrictions on XL bullies earlier this year following several attacks on humans, some resulting in fatalities.

A complete ban on people owning XL bullies will come into force on February 1, 2024, unless the owner applies before the end of January for an exemption to allow them to keep the pet which costs £92.40.

Dogs will also need to be neutered by June 30 unless they are under a year old.

Owners who are not granted an exemption can claim £200 towards the cost of their pet being euthanised by a vet.

Rescue and rehoming organisations can claim £100 per animal.

The dogs will need to be euthanised by January 31, 2024, for a financial claim to be successful.

At least 246 dogs will be put down due to a change in the law.

It comes as the UK’s chief vet Christine Middlemiss warned XL bully owners not to risk leaving it too late to prepare for the changes.

Dr Middlemiss said: ‘Do not risk leaving it to the last minute if you want to keep your dog.

‘Owners should read the guidance and ensure they are ready to comply with the new rules.

‘Please do not risk leaving it to the last minute. If you want to keep your dog, you should apply now for a Certificate of Exemption.’

She added: ‘We recommend a precautionary approach. If you are unsure if your dog is an XL bully or whether any puppies may grow up to be of this dog type, you should comply with the relevant requirements and restrictions.’

Only days ago on December 10, dramatic footage emerged apparently showing two XL bully dogs attacking a man on a rail platform after a woman allegedly lost control of the animals.

There was another alleged XL bully attack in Stratford train station just days ago when a woman struggled to control her dogs (pictured) 

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READ MORE: What IS an XL Bully? Government releases official definition 

The footage was taken at Stratford station in east London and showed the dogs dragging the owner as they went for the man.

According to bystanders, the man had come to help the woman struggling to control her dogs.

Twenty-four people in Britain have been killed by dangerous dogs since the start of the Covid lockdown three years ago.

Victims of attacks since January 2020 include ten-year-old Jack Lis, who suffered catastrophic injuries after he was mauled by an XL bully named Beast whilst playing at a friend’s house near his home in South Wales on November 8, 2021.

Experts have previously warned that the new XL bully ban won’t work because the vague definitions outlined in the law will make it hard to root out banned animals.

The dog is not a recognised Kennel Club breed but comes from the bloodline of the American Pit Bull Terrier, which are banned in the UK.

 Do you own an XL bully? Have you got an exemption or will you be forced to sadly put it down? Contact [email protected].

Injuries and deaths after attacks by XL bully-type dogs

Jonathan Halstead, 35

Jonathan Halstead, 35 – January 29, 2020

Jonathan died from a severe neck injury and bites after being attacked in his home in Oldham, Greater Manchester by his pet Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bronson.

It is believed the dog attacked him when its owner suffered an epileptic fit.

Jack Lis, 10

Jack Lis, 10 – November 8, 2021

Schoolboy Jack Lis, ten, suffered catastrophic injuries after being mauled by an American XL bully dog called Beast while visiting a friend’s home in Penyrheol in Caerphilly, Wales on November 8, 2021.

Neighbours and Welsh Ambulance Service paramedics desperately tried to save him but he died at the scene. Armed police destroyed the dog on site.

Adam Watts, 55

Adam Watts, 55 – December 22, 2021 

Adam Watts, 55, was attacked at the Juniper Kennels and Cattery in Kirkton of Auchterhouse, near Dundee, and was pronounced dead at the scene on December 22, 2021. 

MARCH 21, 2022: Undated family handout photo issued by Merseyside Police of Bella-Rae Birch

Bella-Rae Birch, 17 months – March 21, 2022

Toddler Bella-Rae Birch was attacked by her family’s pet American bully XL dog when she was just 17 months old.

The vicious dog snatched the child out of her mother’s arms while they were at their home in Blackbrook, St Helens, Merseyside, on March 21 last year.

Keven Jones, 62

Keven Jones, 62 – May 28, 2022

Keven Jones died after he was attacked by an American Bully XL dog in Wrexham, Wales on May 28 last year.

Ambulance workers attempted to save him but they were unable to stop his left leg bleeding.

Mr Jones was then pronounced dead at his son’s house following the attack. 

Joanne Robinson, 43

Joanne Robinson, 43 – July 15, 2022

Mother-of-two Joanne Robinson, 43, was killed by her American bully XL dog, Rocco, after it ‘turned mad in the extreme heat’ in July last year.

She died at the scene of the attack at home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire while her partner, Jamie Stead, was left with injuries to his hands, stomach and face as he tried to pull the animal off her.

Joanne’s mother Dot, of Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, revealed at the time that Rocco had previously fought with their other dog Lola – and she had warned her daughter to ‘get rid of one of them’.

Ian ‘Wiggy’ Symes, 34

Ian Symes, 34 – August 2022 

Ian ‘Wiggy’ Symes, 34, who is understood to have been walking a bully XL dog himself at a recreation ground in Fareham, Hampshire, died at the scene following a horrific dog attack in August 2022.

His devastated family said he was ‘doing something he loved’ when he died in the field in Fareham, Hampshire.

Ann Dunn, 65

Ann Dunn, 65 – October 3, 2022

Ann Dunn, 65, was found collapsed with ‘catastrophic injuries’ at her Liverpool home she shared with seven dogs on October 3 last year.

She was mauled to death by dogs including an American bully XL – and had been sent to hospital a year before her death because she had been bitten by a dog. 

Shirley Patrick, 83

Shirley Patrick, 83 – December 3, 2022

Widowed grandmother Shirley Patrick, 83, died after being viciously mauled by an XL bully in her own home.

The retired nurse died in hospital 17 days after suffering ‘life-threatening injuries’ during the ‘hellish’ and ‘violent’ dog attack in Caerphilly, South Wales on December 3 last year.

Jonathan Hogg, 37

Jonathan Hogg, 37 – May 18, 2023

Jonathan Hogg, 37, was mauled to death by an American XL bully dog when it turned on him while he was looking after it for a friend.

He entered the pen when it went for him, leaving bite wounds on his arm, leg and head, an inquest heard.

He was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries after the mauling in Leigh, Greater Manchester, on May 18 this year.

Ian Price, 52

Ian Price, 52 – September 14, 2023

On Thursday, September 14, ‘pillar of the community’ Ian Price, 52, was attacked and killed by two ‘devil’ XL bully dogs after they jumped out of his neighbour’s window in Stonnall, Staffordshire.

Mr Price was attacked and killed by the two dogs which jumped out of a neighbour’s window yards from a primary school. He reportedly died defending his elderly mother from the animals.

The dogs bit him and ripped the clothes from his body leaving him dying in a pool of blood in his boxer shorts in the horror attack just feet from his home.

Ian Langley, 54

Ian Langley, 54 – October 3, 2023

Ian Langley, 54, was set upon on the estate in Sunderland on October 3 this year by an enormous XL bully dog which grabbed him by the neck as he bent down to pick up his Patterdale terrier pup.

The attack left Mr Langley needing CPR for around 15 minutes as emergency services fought to stop heavy bleeding from his wounds. He died from his injuries.

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