More than 15,000 dogs have been seized by police forces across the UK since November 2023, when the XL Bully ban was announced, according to new figures. Of these, 3,638 have been euthanised, averaging 636 seizures and 152 put-downs per month. The data, obtained via a Freedom of Information request by Puppies.co.uk, came from 32 police forces; eight, including Police Scotland, refused to provide information.
The Metropolitan Police noted the figures reflect their jurisdiction covering the largest population in the country. The revelations come amid a series of high-profile dog attacks. In recent months, a three-month-old baby was killed by an XL Bully in Wales, a breed legally registered before the ban. In Essex, three-year-old Bunnie Skinley required surgery after being mauled by a cockapoo, while five-year-old Roman, who is autistic, was attacked by a bull breed, sustaining injuries to his eye, ears and cheeks.
In a separate incident, Michelle Hempstead, 34, died after her mastiff rottweiler cross, Trigg, bit her arm during a fight with her Pomeranian, Pom, over chicken nuggets. The inquest heard she suffered traumatic blood loss leading to multiple organ failure. These cases have prompted campaigners to call for a rethink of dog laws, including tighter breeding restrictions and better owner training to prevent aggressive behaviour.
Charities such as the RSPCA advocate a shift away from breed-specific legislation towards responsible ownership and controls on breeding licensing. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has reconvened the responsible dog ownership taskforce to explore additional measures to protect people and animals from dog attacks under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
