Vets raise concerns about XL Bully dog ban in the UK
They warn that veterinary capacity might be insufficient to treat or euthanize the animals.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has expressed concerns about the UK government’s recent decision to make the ownership of American XL Bullies in England and Wales illegal from 1 February 2024.
According to the veterinary association, there is not a clear enough understanding of the number of dogs that will be treated or euthanized due to this new law. Furthermore, it warns about the insufficient veterinary capacity to carry out the relevant procedures.
The BVA asked the government to extend the deadline to get young XL Bullies neutered.
The new law also established that from 31 December 2024, it will be illegal to breed, sell, advertise, rehome, or for XL Bully dogs to be strays.
It is estimated that between 10,000 and 50,000 XL Bully dogs in the UK will be affected by the new regulation.
Concerns from policymakers
As part of the UK Parliament’s House of Commons, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has written to the government to express their concerns surrounding the new ban.
While they show their broad support for the upcoming regulations, they are calling for further clarity from the government on breed identification. “MPs urge stronger guidance for owners whose pets might come under the ban and ask what steps the Government has taken to publicize the upcoming legislation,” it says.
In the letter, the Committee urged extending the deadline for neutering large dogs under 7 months from January 2024 to the end of June 2025.
This recommendation is to avoid any potential harm that can be caused to large dogs that are neutered too young.
Unnecessary euthanasia?
Other organizations have also criticized the ban, arguing there is not enough evidence that this new law will reduce the number of dog attacks and could lead to unnecessary euthanasia.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the charity organization the Blue Cross and the UK’s official Kennel Club have all joined a campaign group to oppose the ban. According to the local press, the opposition group has collectively raised over £160,000 ($201,924/€184,447) to try to get a judicial review.
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have also prohibited XL Bully dogs and listed them as dangerous dogs. Some reports suggest that the number of countries to ban this breed could increase as the UK law comes into force.