Daily Junction.mobi portalFatal attacks, while rare, are devastating. Between 2005 and 2023, 74 people were killed by dogs in the UK, an average of 4 per year. Victims include children, elderly people, and owners attacked by their own dogs.
The XL Bully ban has also caused immense suffering for dogs. An estimated 10,000-15,000 XL Bullies were euthanised in the first six months of the ban, many of which had never shown aggression. Owners faced impossible choices: pay for neutering, insurance, and exemption fees they could not afford, or surrender their beloved pets to be killed.
Rescue centres were overwhelmed with XL Bullies, but most could not rehome them due to the ban. Battersea Dogs & Home and Dogs Trust reported heartbreaking scenes of families saying goodbye to dogs that had been part of their lives for years.
The 35,000 dogs with exemption certificates now live under severe restrictions. They must be muzzled in public, even in parks or on walks, which can cause distress and overheating. Owners face constant fear of prosecution if the muzzle slips or the dog escapes.
The ban on XL Bully dogs is the latest chapter in the 33-year failure of the Dangerous Dogs Act. Despite banning five breeds, dog attacks have increased 154% since 1991, with 8,819 hospital admissions in 2023. The banned breeds represent a tiny fraction of attacks, while the root causes—irresponsible breeding, lack of training, owner negligence—remain unaddressed.
An estimated 10,000-15,000 XL Bullies were euthanised in the first six months of the ban, many of which had never shown aggression. A further 35,000 live under severe restrictions, muzzled in public and subject to strict controls.
Veterinary and animal welfare organisations almost universally oppose breed-specific legislation, arguing it is ineffective, unscientific, and cruel. They advocate for deed-based laws focusing on owner responsibility, mandatory training, stricter enforcement, and breeder regulation—approaches that have proven more effective in countries that have tried them.
The UK government's continued reliance on breed bans is a triumph of political expediency over evidence. Until the focus shifts from the dog to the owner, attacks will continue, and thousands more dogs will be destroyed for the crime of being born the wrong shape.