Bolton Council is reminding pet owners about new national legislation on XL Bully dogs.
On 31 October 2023, the UK Government announced that XL Bully dogs are now banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
The measures were brought in following an increase in attacks involving XL Bully type dogs in recent years.
From 31 December 2023 it became illegal to:
- breed, or breed from an XL Bully
- sell, exchange, or offer as a gift an XL Bully
- allow the dog to be a in a public place without being muzzled and kept on a lead; or allow it to stray.
From 1 February 2024 it will be illegal to own an XL Bully unless you have a Certificate of Exemption for your dog.
An XL Bully must be:
- microchipped
- kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public
- kept in secure place so it cannot escape
- neutered (by 30 June for older dogs, and by the end of 2024 if the dog is under one year old)
The owner must:
- be over 16 years old
- take out third party public liability insurance against their dog injuring other people
- be able to show the Certificate of Exemption when asked by a police officer or a council dog warden, either at the time or within 5 days
Cllr Sue Haworth, Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said:
“We wish to remind all XL Bully dog owners across the Bolton borough of these new legal requirements.
“There are two weeks left to apply for a Certificate of Exemption if you haven’t already.
“If, on or after 1 February 2024, you are found to be in possession of an XL Bully dog without a Certificate of Exemption, you are breaking the law and your dog can be seized.
“The Dogs Trust has online advice on ‘How to train your dog to wear a muzzle’ along with some free webinars for dog owners to watch.”
The national government website has more information about the ban, how to identify an XL Bully and how to apply for a Certificate of Exemption.