Additional reporting by Eleanor Hodgson
Dog owners have shared their anger at legislation which will ban their beloved pets in one week.
On December 31, the XL Bully will become a banned breed in England. This means it will be illegal to sell, breed or give away an XL Bully.
Owners must fill in an exemption form online confirming they will have their dog neutered by the end of June and promising to keep their dog muzzled and on a lead when in a public place from December 31.
From February 1, it will also be illegal to own an XL Bully in England and Wales unless your dog has a valid Certificate of Exemption.
Now, devastated dog owners are having to prepare for the ban of their pets who they describe as loyal and friendly.
Karen Griffin, from East Peckham, has an 18-month-old XL Bully called Storm and was “absolutely devastated” when she first learned of the ban.
She said: “I was upset then scared then angry. Now I know I’ve got to focus and deal with what I’ve got to do.”
The 50-year-old began researching what she needed to do and got third-party insurance. She also has plans to get Storm neutered.
Mrs Griffin had originally fallen in love with the breed after walking a friend’s dog. She said: “I just loved everything about her – how loyal and friendly she was and basically what good fun she was.”
Since the ban was announced Mrs Griffin has noticed that members of the public have behaved differently around her and Storm.
The customer consultant said: “A lady recently crossed over the road as soon as she saw us, and I just thought we’re not going to have any friends anymore.”
But other people in the community have been supportive of Storm and have expressed their upset over the ban.
Karen plans to join with other XL Bully owners and hire out Ted's Field, a secure dog field you can book in Five Oak Green, which would allow the dogs to run around together – something they will be unable to do in a public field from December 31.
The ban was introduced by DEFRA who said they took “decisive action” to protect the public after a rise in dog attacks.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows there have been 16 deaths this year where the underlying cause was a dog bite.
And while she’s finds the stereotype frustrating, Mrs Griffin thinks it might help with issues around breeding.
She said: “The ban is going to stop all these people that own five or six dogs, breed them, pump them with drugs to make them bigger, crop their tails, get them fighting. They’re not going to be able to afford those sorts of fees, so hopefully it can stop that.”
“Why can’t we be the same as America and bring in licensing for dogs?”
Michelle West, of Napier Road, Northfleet, who owns two-year-old Ossie, agreed but thinks the legislation has been too rushed.
She said: “Regulation is needed to protect the dogs as much as anything.”
Michelle attended a protest in London in September following the news of the ban and has concerns over the exemption – which will cost owners £92.40.
She said: “It feels like a tax on owning a dog. It doesn’t look at the temperament of individual dogs at all.
“In fact this is the only breed I know where you can stereotype them because every XL bully I have ever met is as soppy as the next.”
She said her biggest worry is elderly dogs who are being forced to undergo neutering surgery. “It’s not safe as they get older,” she said.
Groups such as the RSPCA have campaigned against Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) since it began in 1991 when the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro were banned
Dr Samantha Gaines, a dog welfare expert at the RSPCA said: “The ban on XL Bully dogs not only remains devastating for so many dogs, but is also taking a heavy toll on owners, on rescue centre staff who have grown close to dogs in their care, and to vets who face the prospect of being asked to put to sleep healthy dogs whose behaviour poses no risk.”
Since the ban was announced, animal charities, who are already under a lot of pressure, have felt an increase in strain, with Dr Gaines saying: “There is a huge risk that rescue centres and the veterinary profession will not be able to cope with the demands put on them by this law.”
Margaret Todd, the founder of the Lord Whiskey Sanctuary in Canterbury, says they’ve had an increase in inquiries since the ban.
She said: “The problem is we are so full; we have got dogs here that can’t be homed for various reasons and will be here forever.”
She also said this time of year the rehoming problem is worse, and urged anyone who takes on a big breed to make sure they are kept under control and properly trained.
A spokesperson from the Dog Control Coalition – which is made up of the RSPCA, Blue Cross, Battersea, Dog Trust, Hope Rescue, Scottish SPCA, The Kennel Club and British Veterinary Association – said: “For 32 years, the Dangerous Dogs Act has focused on banning types of dog and yet this has coincided with an increase in dog bites and the recent deaths show that this approach isn’t working.”
Bully owners have until January 31 to apply to the government’s exemption scheme and comply with additional restrictions, including having them neutered and obtaining third-party liability insurance.
If you have an XL Bully, information regarding the exemption process ahead of the ban click here.
