Rescued XL bullies win last-ditch reprieve

XL bullies have been given a reprieve after campaigners won an injunction to stop rescue dogs being put down.

Laws came in yesterday which make it an offence for the dog to be unmuzzled and off a lead in public, with breeding, selling and rehoming also banned.

It follows attacks by XL bullies, with an estimated 14 human deaths in the last three years and 351 attacks this year alone, according to Bully Watch.

But XL bullies that arrived in a dog rescue shelter since Oct 31, and had not been rehomed, would not qualify for an exemption to stay there, so would be euthanised. It was estimated that more than 240 would be killed as a result.

Carla Lane Animals in Need, a 40-year-old rescue centre in Liverpool, applied for a temporary injunction to save them. A High Court judge has now granted this, ordering that “no XL bully dog may be seized from a rehoming organisation and/or destroyed for want of, or ineligibility for, a certification of exemption” since Oct 31 “until further order of the court”.

Campaigners said it gives rescue centres “breathing space for now”, with the full consequences of putting these dogs down to be considered by judges later this month.

Don’t Ban Me Licence Me, the umbrella group that is crowdfunding for a judicial review against the wider XL bully legislation, said “this positive outcome will strengthen our case”.

The group failed in its earlier attempt to halt the entire ban with an emergency injunction but it could still be granted a judicial review hearing, with John Cooper KC of 25 Bedford Row instructed to lead the case.

XL bully owners have until Jan 31 to apply for a certificate of exemption if they wish to keep their pet, which involves having the animal neutered, microchipped and covered by thirdparty public liability insurance.

After then, it will be a criminal offence to own an unregistered XL bully, with the threat of a criminal record and an unlimited fine.

Steve Barclay, the Environment Secretary, said: “All XL bully owners are expected to comply with the law and we will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, with further restrictions on XL bully dogs coming into force on 1 February.”

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs said: “We have taken action to protect the public from dog attacks by adding the XL bully type to the list of dogs prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act.”