The RSPCA has confirmed that five types of dogs are banned in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act, as new figures show a rise in reported cruelty incidents involving American XL Bullies.
The charity, which responds to complaints of cruelty and neglect across England and Wales, recorded 23 reports relating specifically to XL Bullies in 2020. By 2025, that figure had grown by 3,591% to 849 reported incidents.
Five banned dog breeds
Under breed specific legislation (BSL), the following types are illegal to own in the UK: the pit bull terrier type, the Japanese tosa type, the fila Brasiliero type, the dogo Argentino type, and the XL Bully type.
The UK Government added the XL Bully to the list in February 2024, making it illegal to own them in England and Wales. Similar bans have since been introduced in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Sharp rise in neglect and intentional harm
Figures broken down by incident type show growing numbers of XL Bullies being abandoned, left unattended, harmed intentionally, and neglected since the ban. Reported incidents peaked at 1,235 in 2024, the year the ban came into force.
RSPCA Dog Welfare Expert and Lead on Dog Control issues, Dr Samantha Gaines, said: “Unfortunately, animal cruelty is something we’ve seen spike; in fact we’ve seen a 64% increase in summer cruelty to animals over the last five years.”
Concerns over the ban's impact
Dr Gaines added: “What is particularly worrying is the sharp rise in reports of neglect and intentional harm directed towards these dogs, particularly in 2023 and 2024 when they were in the media a lot, and we fear that the ban in the UK has demonised them.”
She noted that the spike in 2024 was likely due to the ban, with “increased pressures placed on desperate owners struggling to take care of their pets or fearing how they will cope with owning an exempted dog, or due to targeted violence towards dogs who have been unfairly misrepresented.”
Last year saw a decrease in reported incidents, and the RSPCA hopes this trend continues.
Tens of thousands of XL Bully type dogs were exempted by their owners after the ban was announced, and are now subject to strict rules, including always being on a lead and muzzled in public.
The Dog Control Coalition (DCC) wants the new UK Government to tackle the root causes of aggressive behaviour, such as improving breeding and dog control regulations, and to promote responsible dog ownership to protect public safety and improve dog welfare.
