It is now a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless you have a valid Certification of Exemption.
It is an offence to:
- sell an XL Bully dog
- abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray
- give away an XL Bully dog
- breed or breed from an XL Bully dog
- have an XL Bully dog in public without a lead and muzzle
You can now no longer apply for a Certification of Exemption unless authorised by a court order. Local Authorities cannot supply Certificates of Exemptions or assist with Court Orders.
Certification of Exemptions
As of 1 February 2024 you must have a valid Certification of Exemption for your XL Bully dog.
If you missed the deadline to apply for a Certificate of Exemption, you must contact your local police force for advice as it is now illegal to own this type of dog without a valid Certificate of Exemption.
Local Authorities cannot assist you with court orders or supply you with a Certificate of Exemption.
If you require further guidance you can contact DEFRA via email: dogsindex@defra.gov.uk
