XL Bully owners risk eviction over ban, East Midlands dog experts warn
It will be illegal to own the breed from February unless they're registered as exempt
Last updated 15th Nov 2023
Dangerous dog experts are warning XL Bully owners across Peterborough, Stamford and Rutland could lose their home now a ban has been put in place.
From Tuesday (14th November), owners were able to apply to have their XL Bully made exempt from the ban before it's brought in February 2024.
Plenty of rented homes from housing associations, council-owned properties and private landlords allow dogs, but not if they're a banned breed.
Debbie Connolly, who runs Safe Pets UK, said people are already being threatened with eviction:
"People have letters in their hands. People are being told 'you cannot keep that dog and remain at this address'. It is real and it's happening."
"It was quite obvious with this quick introduction that there were going to be problems, and people are really facing this."
She added: "These dogs are neutered, muzzled and on a lead in public; ensured. Please can landlords consider carefully their options and perhaps put a new contract in place that, if the dog remains exempt, let them keep it. It's the same dog it was yesterday."
Anna Pollard, from Kids Around Dogs, helps train dogs in Rutland, and said it could lead to people having to choose between their pet and their home:
"There is the possibility that people will move somewhere else if it means they can keep their dogs."
"I'd jump through hoops to keep my dogs safe, well and protected from breed-specific legislation and other people."
UK Chief Vet, Christine Middlemiss, said: 'We have seen XL Bullies disproportionately involved in dog attacks in recent years.'
"Up to the beginning of 2021 we averaged about three fatalities from dog attacks a year. Since the beginning of 2021 it has been 23, and XL Bullies have been involved in a large proportion of those.'
'We've come to a point where we really need to take action and stop irresponsible breeding and ownership. For genuine owners, you have a path here through registering your pet, getting a certificate of exemption, to be able to keep them in a responsible way."