Last year, the Government announced that from the end of December 2023, the XL Bully type dog would be added to the breed types already banned in the UK, under The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.  The Government has brought into force legislation to implement the ban on XL Bully dogs, and this explains the transitional period for existing owners.

As a council housing tenant, you must follow our Pet Policy www.tendringdc.uk/sub-content-pages/living-in-your-home, go to the Pets section and select Keeping Pets in your council home. If you own a dog, you must have applied for permission to keep it in your home if you have not done this, then you must do so via Tendring District Council website, My Tendring, MyTendring Forms and choose Application to keep a pet in my council property, as a matter of urgency.

If we retrospectively grant you permission to keep your XL Bully or you already have permission to keep the dog in your Council home, then you must meet all the criteria to obtain a Certificate of Exemption (as detailed below) by no later than 31 January 2024 and send us a copy of the Certificate of Exemption as soon as you receive it.

What you need to do to obtain a Certificate of Exemption for your XL Bully

If you own an XL Bully type dog, it does not mean that you cannot keep your dog.  It simply means that there are a few things you must do, by 31 January 2024, to keep your dog legally.

As the owner of an XL Bully dog, you MUST DO the following before 31 January 2024, after which it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully type dog:

• Apply for a Certificate of Exemption before 31 January 2024, this costs £92.40 per dog www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-certificate-of-exemption-to-keep-an-xl-bully-dog‍
• Get Third Party Public Liability Insurance, before applying for a Certificate of Exemption – as an example, the Dogs Trust are offering this for £25 a year -https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/membership
• Neuter your dog permanently, if it is not already neutered. Read www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs#neutering-an-xl for when you must have your dog neutered. A vet must confirm if your dog is already neutered

Your dog must be:

• microchipped
• Kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public
• Kept in a secure place so it cannot escape

You as the owner must also:

• Be over 16 years old
• Be able to show the Certificate of Exemption when asked by a Police Officer or a Council Dog Warden, either at the time or within five days

Since 31 December 2023 it is now against the law to:

• Sell an XL Bully dog
• Abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray
• Give away an XL Bully dog
• Breed from an XL Bully dog
• Have an XL Bully dog in public without a lead and muzzle

You can find the full guidance at www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs

If you do not want to keep your XL Bully Dog:

Since 31 December 2023, it is also illegal to rehome, sell or transfer ownership of XL Bully dogs. Rescue and rehoming centres should not rehome XL Bully dogs after this date.

Rehoming centres can decide to:

• keep an XL Bully and apply for a Certificate of Exemption
• euthanise an XL Bully

Rescue and rehoming organisations can claim a £100 contribution towards any euthanasia cost. Compensation must be claimed by 15 March 2024.

Vets may be asked by XL Bully owners to euthanise their dog. Owners can claim £200 per dog. Rescue and rehoming organisations centres can claim £100. The euthanasia must be performed by 31 January 2024. Owners may apply for compensation at www.gov.uk/government/publications/claim-compensation-for-an-xl-bully-dog by 15 March 2024.

For full and detailed information about this new legislation for XL Bully Dogs and what you need to do, please see www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-on-xl-bully-dogs