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New XL bully rules come into force
A judicial review into the ban will be held in January.
Restrictions introduced ahead of next month's ban.

XL bully dogs must now be kept on a lead and muzzled when in public, after new restrictions on the breed came into force on 31 December.

It is also now against the law to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or allow an XL bully to stray.

A ban on owning the breed will come into force on 1 February. Owners are being urged by the Government to apply for an exemption certificate before the deadline of 31 January. More than 4,000 applications have already been made.

The new laws, which apply to England and Wales, were introduced under the Dangerous Dogs Act following a string of fatal dog attacks, many of which involved XL bully type dogs.

However, the legislation has been controversial. The Dog Control Coalition, which is made up of charities including the RSPCA and the British Veterinary Association, has opposed the ban, and MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have called for the Government to offer greater clarification on the definition of the breed.

A judicial review will be held in January, following an application by the campaign group Don’t Ban Me - License Me, to decide whether the ban is lawful.

Environment secretary Steve Barclay said: “The Prime Minister pledged to take quick and decisive action to protect the public from devastating dog attacks with measures in place by the end of 2023.

“We have met that pledge - it is now a legal requirement for XL bully dogs to be muzzled and on a lead in public. It is also now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL bully dogs stray.

“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.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."