New legislation in England and Wales will make it illegal to leave children under 12 unsupervised with XL bully dogs or other banned breeds, with offenders facing fines and potential seizure of their pets. The rules, laid in parliament on Tuesday, come into effect on 1 November as an extension of existing restrictions on exempted dangerous dogs.
The crackdown follows a spate of attacks, including the death of a 10-year-old girl and a nine-month-old baby last year, both involving XL bullies. The breed, which can weigh up to 60kg, has been subject to ownership restrictions since February 2024 under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Animal welfare minister Sue Hayman said: 'No child should ever be left alone with a dangerous dog. These rules are about putting safety of children first.' However, the RSPCA expressed disappointment that the requirement applies only to 'section 1' dogs, warning that any dog can bite and that the law reinforces misconceptions about breed-specific danger.
Dr Samantha Gaines, RSPCA dog welfare expert, stated: 'Our advice to all parents with dogs is to never leave kids and dogs alone, unsupervised.' She added that children are more likely to be bitten than adults, and called for a public debate on keeping children safe around all dogs. The charity opposes breed-specific bans and advocates for stricter general dog ownership laws, including possible reintroduction of dog licences.
Dog attacks are rising, with 31,920 recorded in England and Wales in 2024, a 2% increase from 2023. The new rules also reinforce existing bans on selling, abandoning, breeding, or walking XL bullies without a lead and muzzle.
