The XL Bully Ban Explained: Your Right to Compensation after a Dog Attack
The government recently passed legislation that starting from the 31st December 2023 the American XL Bully breed of dog will be included on the list of banned and dangerous dogs in the UK. From this date it becomes illegal to breed, sell, gift, swap, advertise, abandon or permit an XL bully dog to stray.
Anyone currently owning an XL Bully will need to keep it on a lead and muzzled whenever they are in public. For this reason owners are being advised to get their dogs used to wearing a muzzle and training them to walk on a lead prior to this legislation becoming law.
In this blog we will take a more in depth look at the new legislation, what it means for the owners of American XL Bully dogs and what steps they need to take to ensure they or you comply with it. We will also discuss what dog bite compensation you could be entitled to if you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by an XL Bully.
Table of Contents
- What Is An American XL Bully?
- What Does The XL Bully Ban Mean?
- What Does the XL Bully Ban Mean for Owners?
- When Does the XL Bully Ban Come to the UK?
- Can You Claim Personal Injury Compensation if you are Bitten by an XL Bully?
What Is An American XL Bully?
The XL Bully came about by cross breeding a variety of bull breeds such as the American pit bull. The XL Bully Type is a variant of the more widespread American Bully breed. This type of dog has different physical characteristics in that they are usually larger when it comes to height and the shape of its body. It will also be more muscular than other forms of the Bully breed like Micro, Pocket, standard and classic.
What Does The XL Bully Ban Mean?
As alluded to earlier in this article, a law has been passed in parliament that adds the XL Bully to the list of breeds banned under the dangerous dogs act. The reason this ban has been put in place is because the government is looking to protect the general public from what they consider a disturbing rise in fatal attacks from this dog breed.
So from the 31st of December 2023, it will become a criminal offence to not only breed XL bully dogs but also sell them, advertise them for sale, exchange them, give them as a gift or abandon them allowing them to become strays. As a consequence of this, breeders have been advised not to mate these dogs to prepare themselves for it becoming a criminal offence to sell or rehome this type of dog very soon.
This is the first step of the process as from the 1st of February 2024, to own an XL Bully dog it will have to be registered on the index of exempted dogs. The reason these dates have been staggered is to provide owners with a period of grace during which they can make any preparations necessary for the new rules.
What Does the XL Bully Ban Mean for Owners?
While from the 31st of December it will be illegal to breed, sell, exchange or rehome an American XL Bully it will not be a criminal offence to own one. However, there are a number of conditions that you will have to comply with. Initially you will have to ensure your dog is always muzzled and on a lead when you take it out for a walk.
There is also a requirement to have your dog microchipped immediately and neutered by the end of June. The only exception to this is dogs under the age of one when the ban comes into force that need to be neutered by the end of 2024.
From the first of February 2024, if you wish to keep your XL Bully you are required to get a certificate of exemption and have your dog registered on the index of exempted dogs. Failure to do this will leave you facing criminal prosecution the outcome of which could be an unlimited fine and your dog being seized.
If you currently own an XL Bully and wish to continue doing so it is imperative that you comply with all regulations prior to the dates we have outlined. If you don’t do this you could end up losing your dog and with a criminal record.
When Does the XL Bully Ban Come to the UK?
The ban on XL Bully dogs has been staggered to allow owners and breeders time to do everything needed to ensure they comply with the legislation. As we have highlighted a number of times during this article, there are two dates that owners of XL Bully dogs must be aware of.
- 31/12/23
- 01/02/24
The first is December 31st 2023 from this date you must refrain from breeding, advertising, selling, rehoming, exchanging or abandoning dogs. At this point you can continue to own an XL Bully, however it must be muzzled and on a lead any time it is the public domain.
The second is February 1st when if you wish to continue to own an XL Bully, you need to have a certificate of exemption to avoid facing criminal charges. It is important you are fully aware of these dates and ensure you comply with them.
Can You Claim Personal Injury Compensation if you are Bitten by an XL Bully?
As with any type of dog, if you are bitten by an XL Bully through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to claim dog bite compensation. Dog bites are without doubt not only painful but can also cause serious upset. Injuries can be severe especially if you are bitten by a large, powerful dog such as an XL Bully.
If you are bitten by a dog and it’s not your fault, the team at Tyler’s Personal Injury Solicitors can help. The first thing you should do when bitten is seek medical attention and get your injuries recorded. You should also take photographs of the affected areas as these will be invaluable as evidence when you pursue your claim. If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by any type of dog and think you may be eligible for compensation, contact the team here at Tylers Solicitors on 0800 699 0079 or via our online contact form. Our services are provided on a no win no fee basis meaning that you will only pay for our services if your claim is successful.