Yahoo News XL bully dog ban: 6 developments in the past 24 hours
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has said the dogs will be banned by the end of the year in response to a series of attacks.
What's happening? The government is set to reveal details of a planned ban on American XL bully dogs.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said the dogs will be banned by the end of the year in response to a series of attacks.
A man died after being attacked on Thursday by two dogs – suspected to be bully XLs – in Staffordshire.
The decision to ban the dogs was quickly backed by campaign groups but other organisations – including the RSPCA and the Kennel Club – said outlawing the animals would not stop attacks.
Questions also remain about how exactly a ban will be implemented and enforced, with concerns about the challenge of defining the dog breed given its cross-bred nature.
It comes amid questions over whether an “amnesty period” could be introduced for owners, with suggestions this would see an outright ban take effect in 2025.
Read more: What is an XL bully dog and why are they being banned? (Yahoo News UK)
Yahoo News rounds up some of the key developments from the XL bully dog ban announcement:
Existing American XL bully dogs in UK will not face cull, says chief vet
UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss has reassured American XL bully dog owners there will be an amnesty before a ban is issued.
This would mean existing dogs were not culled and owners would instead be required to register the pets and use a muzzle and leash when in public, she told BBC Radio 4.
She said: “There’s also a huge amount of work ongoing already, about responsible breeding, responsible ownership and education of people who keep dogs that have the potential to be dangerous.”
Read more: Existing American XL bully dogs in UK will not face cull, says chief vet (Guardian)
American XL bully dogs ban backed by architect of Dangerous Dogs Act
Lord Baker, the architect of the Act during the Sir John Major era, said American XL bully dogs should be “neutered or destroyed” once the ban has come into force, with any permitted to live being “muzzled for the entire time”.
Speaking to LBC, the Tory peer said: “It should be done almost immediately because this is a very dangerous breed and it has actually killed children and attacked other people, and I do not accept the views of the Kennel Club and the RSPCA that breeds should not be banned.
“This dog is, in fact, bred in order to fight and to be aggressive. It has already done enough damage and the Prime Minister is absolutely right to add it.”
Read more: American XL bully dogs ban backed by architect of Dangerous Dogs Act (PA)
Mother of four-year-old attacked by XL bully torn on plans to ban breed
Amy Hobson, whose four-year-old daughter Luna was bitten by an XL bully, said she was undecided over the potential ban.
The 32-year-old told BBC Breakfast: “I do think they should ban them, but I also don’t think they should... there is a small majority of people out there that do look after their XL bullies.
“On the other hand, you’ve got a wide variety of people that just don’t care.”
Read more: Mother of four-year-old attacked by XL bully torn on plans to ban breed (Independent)
Ministers set to work out American XL bully dogs ban after PM pledge
Ministers will soon have to set out details of the prime minister’s planned ban on American XL bully dogs.
Sunak said he had ordered ministers to bring together police and experts to define the breed of dog behind these attacks so they can be outlawed.
But questions still need to be answered about how a ban will be implemented and enforced, with concerns about the challenge of defining the dog breed given its cross-bred nature.
Read more: Ministers set to work out American XL bully dogs ban after PM pledge (PA)
‘Get on with it’: Starmer backs calls for ban on American XL bully dogs
Labour, while supportive of the ban, criticised the prime minister for “dithering” over bringing in restrictions on their ownership.
Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters: “There has been a clear case for banning them for a long time.
"What I say to the government is good, get on with it, and the sooner we can do this the better.”
Read more: ‘Get on with it’: Keir Starmer backs calls for ban on American XL bully dogs (Independent)
What are American bully XL dogs – and why could the government face a tough time banning them?
Adding American bully XL dogs to the banned list is the responsibility of environment secretary Therese Coffey's department.
But it is understood there are concerns over the feasibility of adding the American bully as the dog is not recognised as a specific breed by the Kennel Club.
It could be hard to define and a ban could inadvertently outlaw a range of other dogs.
Read more: What are American bully XL dogs – and why could the government face a tough time banning them? (Independent)
