XL Bully dogs have been muzzled by their owners after tough new laws on the breed came into effect today — but some are still trying to rehome their dogs even though the practice is now illegal.
As of today it is an offence for the dogs to be unmuzzled and off the lead in public, while breeding, selling, rehoming and abandoning them is also against the law.
Some owners have shared photographs of their animals in their new muzzles, though some say their pets are ‘ripping them off’ and refusing to wear them.
However, others are still trying to rehome their animals, either appearing to think the law is not yet in effect or openly expressing their contempt for the legislation.
Owners have been urged to apply for a certificate of exemption for current pets before the January 31 deadline; it will be a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without a certificate from February 1.
Owners have been sharing images of their XL Bully type dogs in muzzles on social media after the ban was imposed from today
It is now illegal to allow XL Bully dogs to be out in public off the leash and without a muzzle, under new legislation designed to reduce incidents involving the mongrel breed
Some would-be rehomers on social media appear to wrongly believe that the legislation does not take effect until midnight tonight
Some owners say they are struggling to persuade their dogs to wear the muzzles outside. one wrote that one of her dogs ‘won’t walk and keeps ripping it off’
This TikTok account claims to have puppies available, even though the practice of selling and rehoming the pups is now illegal
Adverts on Forever Puppy, a pet classifieds website, are continuing to offer XL Bully puppies
Owners have been sharing images of their dogs in Facebook groups, with mixed results on getting their dogs to wear the mandatory mouthpieces.
One simply said: ‘The pup is doing well with the muzzle’, but the owner of a four-month-old puppy said their pet ‘struggled this morning and kept crying’.
Another owner, sharing a photo of her two XL Bully type dogs, wrote: ‘Just sat here this morning bawling my eyes out as the news this morning confirms today is the day muzzles need to be worn outside the house.
‘I have two gorgeous XLs…one will walk on the muzzle great but the big bear…is having none of it.
‘He turns into a statue and won’t walk and keeps ripping it off. I feel broken.
‘My babies can’t go on walks together anymore until he can handle the muzzle. I’m just sitting here defeated by it all.’
Animal charities have been urging owners to begin training their dogs to wear muzzles for months. The legislation was announced in September following a spate of fatal and serious attacks, and detailed in full at the end of October.
Some Facebook groups that were dedicated to rehoming the animals have gone dark after the legislation took effect at midnight.
However, others remain active, with members openly offering to transport animals today despite the act of doing so now being against the law.
In some cases, those offering to help are doing so under the misunderstanding that the law does not come into effect until midnight tonight. The Government says the new law is ‘now in force’.
‘It is also illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray from today,’ a Government spokesperson said earlier today.
Others, however, are openly stating that they will ignore the legislation, or posting anonymously so their names and faces are not shown beside their offers to help.
One said: ‘If anyone has an XL out there needing a home, it has one with me. (F***) the stupid law.’
Another added: ‘I’m looking for an XL too! Yes, (f***) the law, (f***) Sunak, peace of s*** (sic).’
Some social media users are wrongly claiming that people can still rehome their XL Bully dogs, while others have openly expressed contempt for the new law
The crackdown on XL Bully dogs comes into force today meaning that selling the breed is illegal
A horror XL Bully type dog attack that occurred in Mansfield earlier this month
Elsewhere, private listing websites such as Forever Puppy continued to list XL Bully dogs for sale despite the practice of selling the mongrels now being against the law.
Adverts first reported by The Sun suggest the dogs are still being sold by owners and breeders online.
Forever Puppy told the paper that it was removing adverts ‘with reference to XL Bullies’, but MailOnline found more adverts that remained online.
The company said: ‘If you are aware of one that has been missed please share this with us immediately as we take this very seriously.’
On TikTok, a dog breeder purporting to be based in London was continuing to offer puppies even though it is now illegal to both breed the dogs and rehome them.
Asked by one user earlier today if they still had dogs on offer, the breeder said: ‘Yes, if you are seriously interested reply ro (sic) my message.’
They suggested the dogs were being sold for £300 each, but that price could be ‘discussed’.
Animal welfare groups fear the ban will overwhelm rescue centres and vets – with hundreds of the dogs set to be put down this week.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said the Government had met its pledge to take ‘quick and decisive action’ following a series of attacks, several fatal, believed to be linked to the mongrel crossbreed.
But the RSPCA said the measures were ‘not the answer’ and warned of a ‘huge risk’ that rescue centres and vets will be unable to cope with the likely surge in demand.
Samantha Gaines, dog welfare expert at the charity, said: ‘What is really concerning is because the ban has come in at such a pace that there may be owners who are not ready for this, being able to ensure their dog is happy wearing a muzzle.
‘There is some fear that people for whatever reason may have left it a bit late and about what that means.’
She added: ‘Breed is not a good or reliable predictor of aggressive behaviour.
‘Whether or not a dog goes on to use aggressive behaviour depends on how they’ve been bred, how they’ve been raised, their life experiences.’
Instead of targeting dogs with new laws, Dr Gaines said existing legislation should be used more effectively to clamp down on people who exploit and irresponsibly breed the animals.
And she warned against ‘misleading the public that they’re going to be safer when really we have to tackle root causes’.
Owners are selling their XL Bullys for as little as £10 on the internet in a desperate bid to get rid of them
Another owner is giving up their female XL Bully for free to try and get rid of the dog
A one-year old XL Bully has been put up for sale on Facebook for £200
People on X are also trying to sell off their XL Bullies, with an entire litter available to purchase
Another dog owner put an urgent appeal up on Facebook giving away their dog for free
Meanwhile, the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) warned of increased abandonment rates and said the new rules may lead to a ‘postcode lottery’ for vets being able to help owners meet the terms.
To qualify for an exemption certificate, owners must prove their XL bully has been neutered by June 30.
If the pup is less than a year old by January 31, they must neutered by the end of 2024, and evidence must be provided.
As well as neutering their animals, XL bully owners seeking an exemption must also pay an application fee, hold active public liability insurance for their pets and ensure the dogs are microchipped.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said a ‘staggered approach’ had been taken to the restrictions in order to safely manage the existing population of XL bully dogs while ultimately banning the breed.
The dogs were added to the Dangerous Dogs Act on October 31, giving owners two months to prepare for the first stage of restrictions.
People with dangerously out of control dogs can be jailed for 14 years and banned from owning animals, and their pets can be put down.
Mr Barclay said: ‘The Prime Minister pledged to take quick and decisive action to protect the public from devastating dog attacks with measures in place by the end of 2023.
‘We have met that pledge – it is now a legal requirement for XL bully dogs to be muzzled and on a lead in public. It is also now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL bully dogs stray.
‘All XL bully owners are expected to comply with the law and we will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, with further restrictions on XL bully dogs coming into force on February 1.’