XL Bullies Banned in The U.K

The act prohibits the sale, abandonment, and breeding of any of the five dogs currently on the list in the U.K even though “There’s no robust research to demonstrate that dogs bred for fighting are naturally aggressive towards people or that they are unique in the way they can bite.” 

Pit bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and the American XL Bully (added in 2023), are the five dogs on the DDA list.

A dog is considered banned on looks alone, its genetic makeup doesn't matter. This means a dog could be a non-banned breed, but if it looks like a banned breed it will be euthanized. The U.K also refuses banned dogs to be rehomed, even out of the country, and are killed.

Over 374 dogs have been killed since 2016 on looks alone, despite them having the ability to be amazing and loving family pets.

Does the act seem to work?

There is no clear evidence to show dogs on the DDA list are any more aggressive than any other dog. Aggressive behavior has many causes such as genetics and experiences they go through in their individual life. 

 Brittany Thomas, Director of Marketing with Columbus Humane, provided insight about breed-specific aggression. 

When asked if she has seen a pattern in these banned breeds acting aggressively, Thomas responded, “As for Columbus, no we do not see pitbulls or any of the bully breeds behaving more aggressively than other dog breeds. Columbus Humane evaluates animal behavior on the individual level.”

Even with the ban in the past 20 years the U.K has seen bite rates increase by 154%. 48 people have died in dog-related attacks between 1989-2017. 53 out of the 62 dogs involved in these attacks were not on the banned list. 

Breed specific legislation has not only failed to protect the public, resulting in human death, but has also resulted in the death of hundreds of innocent dogs.

What should someone do if their breed of dog is banned?

When owning a banned breed the police or dog warden have authority to take it away. In the instance that a dog is taken from the home it will be assessed by police or a dog expert and they will determine whether or not the dog is a danger to the public. 

Many dogs are forced to be evaluated unnecessarily, and when subjected to this many dogs find it hard to cope. This can cause unwanted changes in health and behavior.

Hopefully, the outcome is that the banned bog isn’t a threat to the public and will be added to the list of exempt dogs. 

Banned breed owners, with the exemption, will need to meet several expectations, including the following:

• Getting the dog micro-chipped and neutered 

• Keeping the dog on a leash and muzzled in public

• Having a secure place so it cannot run away 

• Third party liability insurance

• Having an exemption certificate for the dog

The dog owner must be 16 or older to apply for the exemption certificate. An owner also must notify IED if they move or if their dog passes away.

How to help?

Communities can help by educating others about breed-specific legislation and how dogs are affected by it, joining an aint- BSL group, posting flyers, learning about dog behavior, or writing a paper to legislators. 

Why should dogs be killed based on looks alone, when they have the capacity to be a great family member?