Dog Control Coalition appeals to PM for XL bully ban delay
The letter says that veterinary practices may be unable to meet demands for neutering.
The Dog Control Coalition (DCC) has published an urgent open letter to the Prime Minister, demanding a delay on XL bully regulations due to come into force on 31 December 2023.
The letter, signed by coalition members including British Veterinary Association, RSPCA and Blue Cross, reiterates the group’s opposition to the ban and calls for the ‘unnecessarily short’ deadline to be extended.
New legislation starting from 31 December 2023 will make it illegal for XL bullies to be sold, rehomed, abandoned or bred. From 1 February 2024 it will be illegal to own an XL bully, unless the owner has obtained a Certificate of Exemption.
The DCC says that this timeline will leave XL bully owners ‘confused and anxious’, as well as placing an emotional and logistical burden on rescue centres and veterinary practices to comply with new rules.
It criticises communication from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which it says leaves owners unaware of how to comply with new rules, meaning they may be unable to exempt or type their dog before deadlines. They say that inadequate financial support for owners will add to the burdens of XL bully owners.
Furthermore, the letter says that veterinary practices may be unable to neuter ‘tens of thousands’ of dogs needed to comply with the regulations. The DCC says this could lead to owners and their dogs being unfairly penalised.
It also discussed the pressure that the deadline places on rescue centres and dog legislation officers.
The DCC has continued its calls for the neutering window for dogs currently under seven months to be extended to summer 2025, as well as appealing for all legislation to be extended and more information released.
The open letter was published on 20 December, the same day that Defra amended the legislation for rescue centres seeking to exempt XL bullies in their care. The changes mean that rescue centres can no longer apply to exempt dogs received on or before 31 October 2023, when the legislation was first published.
Rescue centres have also been given a deadline of 15 January 2024 to submit any exemption requests.
Closing their letter, the DCC writes: “We urgently need more information and support from the Government so that we can help support owners and dogs affected by this ban and we, the rescue sector of the coalition will also need help and support to get through this too.
“On behalf of responsible XL Bully owners, animal welfare charities and veterinary professionals, we are asking that you act urgently to extend the implementation of this legislation.”
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RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.
