Dog shelters in a 'race against time' to rehome abandoned XL Bullies
Animal charities and rescue groups are rushing to re-home abandoned XL Bully dogs before New Year’s Eve as the ban on the dog breed looms closer.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced in September that American XL Bullies would be banned by the end of the year, after a spate of fatal attacks - meaning that any XL Bullies left with organisations would need to be put down. From Sunday, you won't be able to sell, breed or give away an XL Bully-type dog.
It will also be an offence to own one from February 1 unless the animal is registered to the Index of Exempted Dogs. The RSPCA said that they had until New Year’s Eve to rehome the animals, with any XL Bullies remaining in their care having to be put down.
The animal charity's Dr Sam Gaines said: "We are unfortunately facing a deadline of New Year’s Eve. If we cannot rehome the XL Bullies that are in our care that are ready to be rehomed, we are going to be in the unfortunate situation that they are going to have to be put to sleep."
She also said the charity is working very hard to rehome the breed in time but admitted that abandoned XL Bullies are still being sent to their centres. Estimates suggest as many as 200 XL Bullies are in the care of the charity sector, but the figure could be higher.
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In a statement, the RSPCA said that “not all of the dogs in our care are ready to be rehomed before the deadline, due to behavioural or medical reasons, and it’s heartbreaking for the staff and volunteers who have been caring for them.” "Sadly, as a charity which rescues animals from cruelty and neglect, some of the dogs in our care would not be able to be safely rehomed due to the traumas they have suffered," The Telegraph reported.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced in September that American XL Bullies would be banned by the end of the year, after a spate of fatal attacks (Getty Images)"We do not have an exact number and are unlikely to know for some time due to a number of dogs still awaiting assessment from police dog liaison officers and court cases to conclude. We believe it could be as many as 200 across the charity sector and local authority dog wardens are likely to have more as they deal with stray dogs, which can no longer be rehomed.”
The RSPCA has previously expressed “concern” about “what support will be offered by Government to rescue centres to fulfil the requirements of this ban, which will be very difficult for staff and vets to carry out”. Local shelters and rescue groups have also witnessed a rise in the number of the soon-to-be-banned pets being abandoned and ending up in their care. For instance, two XL Bullies were found abandoned on the street in Cornwall, with the pair spending Christmas in kennels.
Dogs Trust has previously said it would not take in any more XL Bully dogs because the charity has a policy of never putting down a healthy dog. Some reports also suggest some dogs are being sent to Scotlandfor rehoming, as the new ban will only come into effect in England and Wales. Other banned dog breeds in the UK include Pit Bull Terrier and Fila Brasileiro.
From Sunday, it will be for rehoming centres to decide whether to apply for a certificate of Exemption to keep the dogs, or to have them euthanised by a vet, where research organisations can claim £100 from the government to cover costs of getting the dogs euthanised.
A Defra spokesman said that XL Bully dogs “pose an unacceptable risk to the public” and that the Government had acted “decisively” in enacting the ban: "We are working closely with charities and rehoming centres to safely manage any XL Bully dogs in their care, and we will provide financial support for any that have to put XL Bully dogs down.”
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