27/12/2023
Please see below the open letter sent to the Prime Minister by the Dog Control Coalition. If you need help with neutering costs of your XL Bully please contact the branch on [email protected].
Open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from the
Dog Control Coalition
20 December 2023
Dear Prime Minister
Open letter postpone the XL Bully ban
We, the Dog Control Coalition, are urgently calling for a
delay to the introduction of the ban on XL Bully dogs
scheduled to come into force on 31 December 2023. We
strongly oppose banning any breed, as it is unfair on
responsible owners and their dogs, and has historically
proven to be ineffective in keeping the public safe.
However, in the absence of a decision to reverse the
ban, we are calling on the Government to extend the
unnecessarily short deadline for the ban to come into
force so owners, rescue centre staff and vet teams can
act to do the best for the dogs in our care.
Our main concerns are as follows:
● The ban is being introduced at speed with little
time for those affected to prepare - leaving
owners confused and anxious, and placing a
huge emotional and logistical burden on rescue
centres and vet teams.
● A lack of clear communication from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra), which is leading on the ban, means owners are either unaware of
what they need to do to comply with the new law, causing them to potentially miss
the deadline to exempt a beloved family pet, or are struggling to understand how to
type their animals. There is also inadequate financial support for owners to comply
with the exemption, making it impossible for some to keep their dogs and adding to
the burden of those who can, in an already difficult economic climate.
● With the exact numbers of XL Bully dogs not known, it is unclear whether the vet
profession has the capacity to neuter the estimated tens of thousands of dogs to
comply with the ban, which risks owners and dogs being penalised. We continue
to ask the UK Government to extend the neutering window to the summer of 2025 for
dogs under seven months old at this current time. The cross-party Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs committee is also calling on Defra to extend this timeline.
● The pace of this policy change is impacting significantly on the rescue sector. We
face the very real risk of dogs being dumped in large numbers, leaving the rescue
sector, already full to bursting, having to pick up the pieces. There is a lack of funding
for neutering and inadequate funding for euthanasia, placing extra pressure on
animal charities.
● This uncertainty is compounded by the lack of available enforcement support from
the police, with concerns about limited availability, and delays in training, of Dog
Legislation Officers to tackle the expected increased demand for their services.
Additionally, rescue centre staff face being forced to put to sleep pet animals simply because
of the way they look, and who, if they were a different breed, they would potentially be able
to take the time to train, rehabilitate and prepare for secure and safe homes.
The lack of information resulting from the pace of the policy change is also impacting
significantly on operations at rescue centres. There is no clear guidance on how to manage
puppies in rehoming centres, despite the coalition repeatedly asking for clarity leaving huge
uncertainty. Dogs can only be assessed as an XL Bully type when fully mature, based on
physical characteristics, which leaves a grey area for puppies and juveniles who cannot yet
be accurately assessed.
We urgently need more information and support from the Government so that we can help
support owners and dogs affected by this ban and we, the rescue sector of the coalition will
also need help and support to get through this too.
On behalf of responsible XL Bully owners, animal welfare charities and veterinary
professionals, we are asking that you act urgently to extend the implementation of this
legislation.
Yours Sincerely
Dog Control Coalition
Blue Cross, Battersea, British Veterinary Association, Dogs Trust, Hope Rescue, PDSA,
RSPCA, Scottish SPCA, The Kennel Club and USPCA
