As New Year fast approaches, I’m filled with dread and upset. As of the 31st Dec, it will be illegal to own an XL bully in the UK. This means that hundreds of these sweet natured, good and rehomable dogs will be destroyed. Dogs that have never put a foot wrong, sentenced to death based off an arbitrary size guide on the .gov website. It breaks my heart. My New Years will be silent this year. So please spare a thought this coming weekend for these innocent dogs, for the volunteers that’ve loved them and know them for the gentle beings they are. Spare a thought for vets who will be forced to extinguish the life of healthy, bouncy puppies, just because they look a certain way. Spare a thought for all the protesters, (over 500,000 of you!) who did their absolute best but it just wasn’t enough. And finally never forget our corrupt and incompetent government, that are responsible for this horrific and archaic law. BSL doesn’t stop dog attacks. It kills good dogs and causing endless trauma to families, shelter workers and veterinary professionals.
-
Happy Earth Week! TBT is hosting a series of nature-based mini-events through April 28th. Breed flower hybrids by organizing your collectible lineup, enter our nature photography contest, purchase historically dated scenery collectibles, and earn bells around the site! Read more in the Earth Week and photography contest threads.
Spare a thought…
- Thread starter Hsn97
- Start date
MiniPocketWorld
🌺💦🏄💦🌺
This is very sad to hear, and the first I have heard of it, but I live across the pond so that may be why. But I have heard of various places trying to ban many kinds of animals.
Sincerely sorry for your loss if you're effected.
Sincerely sorry for your loss if you're effected.
Foreverfox
💖✨Egg mother✨💖
That is so sad, I can’t believe that there can’t be designated shelters for dogs who fall into this category who are considered a nuisance for whatever reason. I am completely devastated hearing about this. 
Midoriya
Go beyond! Plus ultra!
This is very unfortunate to hear and read about. Humans interfere with the lives of animals too much to be honest, but not going to delve into that because I'll be opening a whole other can of worms.
Anyway, I'll be thinking about this and send a prayer for all the dogs and people effected. This is just another example of why I don't enjoy politics, at all.
Anyway, I'll be thinking about this and send a prayer for all the dogs and people effected. This is just another example of why I don't enjoy politics, at all.
Despite being in the US, I have been following this to a limited degree. I can't bear to read all the details because it makes me so angry and depressed, but I feel for everyone affected by this terrible law. I believe I heard that owners can file for exceptions to keep their dogs, but their quality of life will suffer as they will be required to remain muzzled or something to that effect. The biggest news I've heard is that the law is so vague regarding the qualifications for what constitutes an XL bully breed that many owners don't know if their dog will be subject to the law or not.
I am always against dog bans of any kind. I have witnessed a dog attack and had a dog attempt to attack me, so I understand the fear some people feel. But blaming an entire breed for the actions of a few dogs or simply for their capacity to do harm even if they have never done so is wrong. I've been around numerous bullies and I've only felt a need to be cautious around one of them, but she never even did anything wrong. It was just a feeling of wariness I got from her, so I respected her and kept my distance and we were fine. The (very few) dogs that I've witnessed become aggressive were from much more beloved breeds.
I am always against dog bans of any kind. I have witnessed a dog attack and had a dog attempt to attack me, so I understand the fear some people feel. But blaming an entire breed for the actions of a few dogs or simply for their capacity to do harm even if they have never done so is wrong. I've been around numerous bullies and I've only felt a need to be cautious around one of them, but she never even did anything wrong. It was just a feeling of wariness I got from her, so I respected her and kept my distance and we were fine. The (very few) dogs that I've witnessed become aggressive were from much more beloved breeds.
It’s awful isn’t it. Owners can file for exemption but that will cost them nearly £100. Then they’ve got to pay for public liability insurance for their dog, on top of having them spayed and neutered, regardless of their age. Meaning the government want young puppies neutered before they’re ready. They’ll have to be muzzled and kept on a lead at all times in public. We’re also having a housing crisis in the uk atm, and this new law means landlords can evict families with XL bullies if they refuse to give up their pet. But the government have very kindly said that if you choose to have your pet euthanised that they’ll pay £200 towards those costs.
the law also prevents the rehoming of these dogs. Meaning that any that are currently in shelters will be destroyed because they won’t be able to rehome them, even if the dog has no history of aggression or poor behaviour.
And again it’s all based off a set of looks. The government have released a document that says if a dog looks this way it’s an XL bully and therefore banned. My friend has a lab x boxer, no bully in her at all, but she meets the description so also being swept up in this net.
Post automatically merged:
Unfortunately the law prevents them from being rehomed so any that are currently in shelters will be euthanised, regardless of their temperament, history or age. I know of one rescue who last week had a mother and litter of five new born pups in. And because of the government these gorgeous babies going to have to be destroyed because by the time they’ll be old enough to rehome, the law will have some into action. It makes my blood boil.That is so sad, I can’t believe that there can’t be designated shelters for dogs who fall into this category who are considered a nuisance for whatever reason. I am completely devastated hearing about this.
I remember seeing a petition about this earlier this year, but sadly couldn’t sign as I’m not a UK resident.
This breaks my heart beyond measure. My mom has instilled in me my whole life that animals of all kinds are God’s greatest creations, and much superior to humans, and to see this happen to such a beautiful breed of dog is devastating. This decision not just affecting XL Bullies, but any dog that just looks like them, is horrific. Those poor babies. All of these young, healthy, beautiful dogs that will have to be euthanized just because they exceed a “size limit”. What a horrific thing to implement. I can’t begin to imagine the anger, grief and fear that those who have an XL Bully, or a dog that looks like one, must be feeling right now. My heart breaks for them, those beautiful dogs, and the poor vets that will be forced to euthanize them.
I’m of the utmost belief that there’s no such thing as a bad dog, only bad dog owners. Banning any breed of dog is not at all a suitable solution to dog attacks or the fear/risk of them. XL Bullies have a right to live as much as we and other creatures do, and in my personal opinion, no one has the right to decide that they don’t. Not even a government. Imo, a better solution would be to implement certain requirements for shelters, breeders, people who wish to own an XL Bully or similar breeds of dogs etc to meet, to ensure that they all go to people who can actually properly handle, train and take care of them, to lower the risk of them ending up in an irresponsible owner’s hands. This might be more work and maybe not easily feasible, but an outright ban is just inhumane.
The more details I learn about this, the more horrifying it becomes. Having to pay a fee just to exempt your dog from a law that will kill them is so, so gross, and the thought of these dogs having to be unnecessarily muzzled at all times while in public is cruel. There are of course dogs who need to be muzzled while in public for their and others’ safety, but to push that on every XL Bully just because of the actions of a few dogs (which again, actions the dogs likely wouldn’t have been able to do if their owners had been properly watching and handling them). Landlords being able to evict people because they own one of these dogs, in the midst of a housing crisis, is truly one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. The government offering to pay £200 towards the euthanizations of these beautiful dogs, when their lives are priceless and this shouldn’t even be happening, is just… I’m appalled.
I’m so sorry to you and everyone else that this will affect. It’s not right.
This breaks my heart beyond measure. My mom has instilled in me my whole life that animals of all kinds are God’s greatest creations, and much superior to humans, and to see this happen to such a beautiful breed of dog is devastating. This decision not just affecting XL Bullies, but any dog that just looks like them, is horrific. Those poor babies. All of these young, healthy, beautiful dogs that will have to be euthanized just because they exceed a “size limit”. What a horrific thing to implement. I can’t begin to imagine the anger, grief and fear that those who have an XL Bully, or a dog that looks like one, must be feeling right now. My heart breaks for them, those beautiful dogs, and the poor vets that will be forced to euthanize them.
I’m of the utmost belief that there’s no such thing as a bad dog, only bad dog owners. Banning any breed of dog is not at all a suitable solution to dog attacks or the fear/risk of them. XL Bullies have a right to live as much as we and other creatures do, and in my personal opinion, no one has the right to decide that they don’t. Not even a government. Imo, a better solution would be to implement certain requirements for shelters, breeders, people who wish to own an XL Bully or similar breeds of dogs etc to meet, to ensure that they all go to people who can actually properly handle, train and take care of them, to lower the risk of them ending up in an irresponsible owner’s hands. This might be more work and maybe not easily feasible, but an outright ban is just inhumane.
The more details I learn about this, the more horrifying it becomes. Having to pay a fee just to exempt your dog from a law that will kill them is so, so gross, and the thought of these dogs having to be unnecessarily muzzled at all times while in public is cruel. There are of course dogs who need to be muzzled while in public for their and others’ safety, but to push that on every XL Bully just because of the actions of a few dogs (which again, actions the dogs likely wouldn’t have been able to do if their owners had been properly watching and handling them). Landlords being able to evict people because they own one of these dogs, in the midst of a housing crisis, is truly one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. The government offering to pay £200 towards the euthanizations of these beautiful dogs, when their lives are priceless and this shouldn’t even be happening, is just… I’m appalled.
I’m so sorry to you and everyone else that this will affect. It’s not right.
Goldi Locks
Hot Porridge
They won't be destroyed, I promise. There are breed specialists who volunteer to take them in. These people are assessed by the courts and cleared to do this and the dog has to be assessed to make sure it's no danger to the potential owner or their family, neighbours etc.
It's mostly that they can't be housed with children, where someone who already owns one would run into issues. The owners do have to register the animal with the court, but they do this with all pittbull types in the uk that are banned here. They still exist, but they are monitored by the court and must be muzzled in public. XL Bullies were technically already illegal, as they are classed as pitbull types here.
XL Bully isn't a real breed, it's a mongrel. Backyard breeders created this breed and many were registered with vets and pet insurers during covid, when checks were not being done. Vets would normally have to let pet insurers know, upon examination, what they observe the breed to be or if it matches the breed it is claimed to be. XL Bullies would either be registered as mongrel crossbreeds or a staffie type. I think the uk should ban backyard breeding altogether, only allow registered breeders to sell puppies and bring back the dog license.
Unless the dog is deemed to be individually dangerous, they won't just round them up and kill them. Don't worry too much. I do understand your concern, but the reason this happened was due to the high number of fatalaties of humans in this country from this dog type, most of whom were children. Yes, it might well be all down to the owner, but that's why it's important to have to register them with the courts, to make sure they're not left in the hands of those who don't understand them, can't control them or can't defend themselves from. Until more analysis is done on the animals to determine one way or another, we have no idea if crossing a Bull Mastiff with a Staffordshire Bull is actually a recipe for disaster, due to how their brains develop and the split-skull issues these types can have anyway. This type of dog was likely bred for illegal dog fights initially too, which is a fate we mustn't wish on any dog obviously, no matter what the type is.
It's mostly that they can't be housed with children, where someone who already owns one would run into issues. The owners do have to register the animal with the court, but they do this with all pittbull types in the uk that are banned here. They still exist, but they are monitored by the court and must be muzzled in public. XL Bullies were technically already illegal, as they are classed as pitbull types here.
XL Bully isn't a real breed, it's a mongrel. Backyard breeders created this breed and many were registered with vets and pet insurers during covid, when checks were not being done. Vets would normally have to let pet insurers know, upon examination, what they observe the breed to be or if it matches the breed it is claimed to be. XL Bullies would either be registered as mongrel crossbreeds or a staffie type. I think the uk should ban backyard breeding altogether, only allow registered breeders to sell puppies and bring back the dog license.
Unless the dog is deemed to be individually dangerous, they won't just round them up and kill them. Don't worry too much. I do understand your concern, but the reason this happened was due to the high number of fatalaties of humans in this country from this dog type, most of whom were children. Yes, it might well be all down to the owner, but that's why it's important to have to register them with the courts, to make sure they're not left in the hands of those who don't understand them, can't control them or can't defend themselves from. Until more analysis is done on the animals to determine one way or another, we have no idea if crossing a Bull Mastiff with a Staffordshire Bull is actually a recipe for disaster, due to how their brains develop and the split-skull issues these types can have anyway. This type of dog was likely bred for illegal dog fights initially too, which is a fate we mustn't wish on any dog obviously, no matter what the type is.
Because that amount fully covers the trauma of losing a beloved member of your family.But the government have very kindly said that if you choose to have your pet euthanised that they’ll pay £200 towards those costs.
Alolan_Apples
“Assorted” Collector
If I had a pet, and the federal government passed a law that requires euthanizing that pet when the pet did nothing wrong, I will move out of the country. I have little tolerance towards this level of government corruption.
Sure they can ban having certain pets, but they can’t ban people from leaving the nation over their unjust laws.
Sure they can ban having certain pets, but they can’t ban people from leaving the nation over their unjust laws.
