Kent Police Seizes Dozens of XL Bully Dogs

Kent Police has confiscated numerous XL bully type dogs since new restrictions were implemented, according to data obtained by the BBC. Between February and November, the police force carried out 87 seizures, resulting in 54 dogs being euthanised and 31 returned to their owners. Two dogs are currently housed in kennels while their fate is determined. As of February 1, it became unlawful to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate and adherence to strict regulations, including neutering the dog and muzzling it in public. New legislation restricting the breeding and sale of these dogs took effect on December 31, 2023, following a series of dog attacks across the country. Detective Inspector Ben Brennan, from Kent Police’s dog section, stated: “These dogs can be very dangerous and I urge anyone who thinks they or someone they know has an unregistered XL bully or other banned breed to contact us.” He added: “We have experienced officers who are trained to deal with these breeds and they will take the appropriate actions to keep people safe.'” A BBC investigation revealed that, on average, over 100 dangerous dogs have been destroyed monthly since the prohibition of XL bullies. Ryan O’Meara, a former professional dog trainer, asserted that any legislation not precisely focused on enhancing dog ownership standards would be unsuccessful. He informed BBC South East: “Until we have a government that is willing to recognise that people are ultimately the cause of dog attacks because they don’t socialise the dogs or understand dogs well enough, then we can expect more of the same.” O’Meara further added: “The way to solve this problem is the introduction of compulsory dog ownership training – a dog ownership test”. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) characterized the XL bully prohibition as “an important measure to protect public safety” and indicated its ongoing collaboration with police, local authorities, and animal welfare groups to avert dog attacks “using the full force of the law where needed”.