Over 100 XL Bully Dogs Euthanized Monthly Since Ban

The BBC has discovered that, on average, over 100 dangerous dogs have been euthanized monthly since the prohibition of XL bullies was implemented almost a year ago. Law enforcement agencies across England and Wales report that expenses for housing thousands of impounded dogs, frequently for extended periods, have escalated sixfold, reaching £25 million annually, with numerous facilities operating at full capacity. Despite this, canine attacks show no indication of decreasing in numerous regions. Out of 25 police forces that responded to Freedom of Information Act inquiries from the BBC, 22 indicated they anticipate an increase in reported incidents this year. Lisa Willis, who suffered an attack by an XL bully several months following the ban, described the incident as feeling like a “horror movie” and deemed the legislation “useless”. She asserted that individuals owning dogs similar to the one that severely injured her arm ought to be prohibited from acquiring additional animals. Nevertheless, in her specific situation, the owner had obtained a replacement dog “within weeks”. In June, Lisa was walking her terrier, Duke, when a French bulldog assaulted him. Shortly thereafter, an XL bully-type dog emerged from a garden, crossed the street, and attacked Lisa. The 55-year-old Norfolk resident stated, “I just thought it was going to kill me.” She added, “It was so powerful, it was literally hanging off my arm and no matter what, I just couldn’t get it off.” Bystanders heard her cries and assisted in removing the dog, but she reported her arm was “shredded”. Fearing fatal blood loss, she requested her rescuers contact her husband “so I could say goodbye”. Regulations imposing restrictions on the breeding and sale of XL bullies became effective on 31 December last year, following numerous prominent attacks, some resulting in fatalities. By February, ownership of this dog type became unlawful, unless the animal had been registered prior to the specified deadline. Britain currently prohibits five dog types: XL bully, pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Doga Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro. Dogs registered before the ban are required to be neutered, wear a muzzle in public, and be maintained in secure environments. Upon the law’s implementation, the UK government estimated approximately 10,000 XL bully dogs in England and Wales; however, this proved to be a significant underestimate, as over 57,000 such dogs are now registered with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Data from Freedom of Information Act requests submitted to 19 police forces across England and Wales reveal that during the initial eight months of 2024: Given that some impounded dogs remain in police kennels for months awaiting breed or type confirmation, over half of the forces that reported on their kennel status indicated they were at or nearing full capacity. Following a court order or when owners disclaim their dogs, a veterinarian performs euthanasia. Chief Constable Mark Hobrough, who leads the National Police Chief Council’s (NPCC) efforts regarding dangerous dogs, stated that the legal amendment has imposed considerable strain on police forces and generated an “incredible” volume of additional expenses for them to manage. He noted that kennel and veterinary expenses have escalated from £4 million to £25 million, yet this figure does not encompass the supplementary costs associated with staff training, acquiring extra vehicles and equipment, leasing temporary kennels, and the broader operational expenditures involved in policing an unprecedented number of dangerous dogs. He further mentioned that the NPCC is advancing “a strong request” for increased government funding to fulfill the demands of the XL bully prohibition. Furthermore, the heads of the 43 police forces across England and Wales seek a legal modification to provide officers with alternative methods for addressing individuals found to be in possession of dangerous dogs. A contributing factor to the complexity of enforcing the ban is that determining if a dog is an XL bully often necessitates specialized training and occasionally external expert assessment, leading to prolonged kennel stays for the animals. Government guidance was issued to aid in identifying XL bullies, which are categorized as a “type” of dog rather than a Kennel Club-recognized breed. They are characterized as large dogs “with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for [their] size”. Expert assessors informed us that potentially up to a third of the dogs registered with Defra might not be XL bullies, yet no guidelines currently exist for their removal from the register. Police chiefs desire amendments that would permit them to issue cautions to responsible owners who might have unknowingly acquired an XL bully, while simultaneously retaining robust authority to address illegal breeders and repeat offenders. Defra stated that the XL bully prohibition constitutes “an important measure to protect public safety” and affirmed its ongoing collaboration with police, local authorities, and animal welfare organizations to avert dog attacks “using the full force of the law where needed”. Following the attack, Lisa – who shared her experience with us via Your Voice, Your BBC News – was hospitalized. The dog responsible for mauling her was impounded by police and euthanized on the same day, which is standard protocol when a dog is implicated in a severe incident. She is currently undergoing treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and expresses feeling “powerless” to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. She asserted, “I need to make sure these people have consequences for their actions because if it continues, someone else is going to get killed, someone else is going to be attacked.” Additional reporting was provided by Jonathan Fagg and Emily Doughty. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.