What happens if you own a dog breed that gets banned in the UK?
15.09.2023 - 13:17
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Dog attacks across the country have been steadily rising. Over the past five years, dog attacks have increased by more than a third, with 10 fatal dog attacks in the UK last year.
More than half of those fatal incidents involved a new breed that's grown in popularity - the American XL Bully.
Most recently, a suspected XL Bully savagely attacked an 11-year-old girl and two men on a busy shopping street in Birmingham. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has now described the breed as "a danger to our communities" and confirmed they'll be banned by the end of the year, the Mirror reports.
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Outlining plans to ban the XL bully dog breed in a video statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Sunak said: “The American XL bully dog is a danger to our communities, particularly our children. I share the nation’s horror at the recent videos we’ve all seen. Yesterday we saw a another suspected XL bully dog attack, which has tragically led to a fatality.
"It is clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs, it’s a pattern of behaviour and it cannot go on. While owners already have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control, I want to reassure people that we are urgently working on ways to stop these attacks and protect the public."
Mr Sunak said he has tasked ministers to define the breed of dog behind the attacks. The breed will then be banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act and new laws will be in place by the end of the year.
When a dog breed is added to the banned list, it means that it is illegal for anyone in the UK to own, breed, or sell them. Currently, four breeds are on the list: the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese