An XL bully owner has become the first known person in the UK to be prosecuted for breaching new the dangerous dog ban after police discovered the animal ‘who would attack anyone who approached it'.
Patrick McKeown, 40, failed to apply for an exemption for his dog or to have the animal neutered or obtain third party insurance in line with the legislation which came into force on February 1.
Officers had found the animal, which had been kept in the back yard of his home in Worthing, when visiting McKeown on a different matter.
The owner had warned police that the XL Bully-type dog would attack anyone who went near it, leading officers to get a warrant for the address and seize the pet.
McKeown, a former builder who lived on Church Road, Tarring, admitted one count of possessing or having a fighting dog, contrary to the Dangerous Dog Act.
An XL bully owner has become the first known person in the UK to be prosecuted for breaching the dangerous dog ban. Pictured: File photo of XL Bully
The court imposed a one-year community order, requiring him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.
Magistrates also imposed an order for the dog to be destroyed, pending an appeal.
Chief Inspector Simon Starns, who is the force lead for responding to dangerous dogs, said: ‘This was one of the first cases of its type to be prosecuted in Sussex.
‘It demonstrates to the public that owners have a responsibility to ensure that they comply with the new laws which are now in force.
‘We continue to work closely with partners to ensure dogs are kept safe through responsible ownership and to reduce the risk to the public.
‘We continue to ask all dog owners to comply with Government guidance on the ownership of the XL Bully breed of dog.
‘This includes ensuring that all XL Bully breed dogs are muzzled and kept on a lead held by someone aged over 16 when in public places.'
Last month, it was revealed that dog attacks in the UK had risen by a fifth in one year – with police recording more than 80 incidents a day.
Police forces recorded 30,539 offences of a dog injuring a person or a guide dog last year increasing from 25,291 in 2022.
Responding to the increased scale of attacks, and a series of fatalities, cause by XL Bully-type dogs, the Government brought forward a ban on the dangerous dogs.
Responding to the increased scale of attacks, and a series of fatalities, cause by XL Bully-type dogs, the Government brought forward a ban on the dangerous dogs
Esther Martin, 68 (pictured) from Woodford Green, London – died after being attacked by two XL-bully type dogs
The dogs were owned by breeder Ashley Warren, a wannabe rapper who goes by the name Wyless Man (pictured)
It became a criminal offence to own the XL Bully breed in England and Wales without an exemption certificate and it was added to the list of banned dangerous dogs on February 1.
To qualify for an exemption certificate, most owners must prove their XL bully has been neutered by June 30.
Owners of dogs under a year old have a longer deadline until December 31 to prove their pet has been neutered.
XL Bullys are largely seen as a status dog – a breed hard-wired for its strength and violence and over the last few years the number of attacks by the breed has steadily risen.
Two in four deadly dog attacks in the UK in 2021 involved the XL Bully breed – rising to six in ten in 2022, including high-profile maulings of children Jack Lis, ten, and Bella-Rae Birch, who was just 17 months.
Just three days after the new laws came into place, grandmother Esther Martin was savaged to death by ‘two unregistered dogs' – later confirmed to be XL bullies.
The 68-year-old was attacked while visiting her 11-year-old grandson at his home in Woodford Green on Saturday.
She had been trying to calm the dogs – named Beauty and Bear – when they mauled her.
The dogs, who belonged to her wannabe rapper son-in-law Ashley Warren, also had six puppies.
Police can now seize XL bullies if they are not registered or owners don't comply with new restrictions, which include wearing a muzzle in public. Owners can also face a criminal record and unlimited fine.
