Owning, breeding or abandoning a banned dog breed in the UK can result in severe penalties, including unlimited fines and up to 14 years in prison. While the XL Bully is the most widely discussed, four other breeds also fall under the ban.
Whether you are classed as being in possession of a banned dog is based entirely on the animal's physical appearance rather than its breed name.
Penalties for owning a banned breed
The punishment for owning a banned breed depends on the level of control you have over the animal. If your dog is deemed to be dangerously out of control—meaning it attacks someone, or puts them in fear of being attacked—you can be punished by law.
For having a dangerously out of control dog, you can receive an unlimited fine or be imprisoned for up to six months, or both. You may also be forbidden from owning another dog in future, and your dog may be destroyed.
If you allow your dog to injure someone, you can be imprisoned for up to five years or fined. This counts as 'malicious wounding' under the law. If you allow your dog to kill someone, you can face prison for 14 years and an unlimited fine.
The five banned breeds
Under current law, there are five breeds of dogs banned in the UK: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and XL Bully. However, the law targets the physical traits of these dogs, rather than specific breeds themselves.
For instance, if your dog has the build or characteristics of a Pit Bull Terrier, it could be classed as banned. This means you are prohibited from owning, breeding or abandoning it.
It is your responsibility to demonstrate that your dog is not a banned type. If you are able to do so, it will be returned to you. If you cannot prove this, you will be convicted of owning a banned breed and the dog will be put down.
Exemptions and conditions
If you own a banned dog but the court does not consider it a danger to the public, you may be eligible to apply for a Certificate of Exemption. This permits you to keep the dog, provided it does not behave dangerously and you adhere to certain conditions.
To qualify for an exemption, your dog must be neutered, microchipped and kept on a lead, as well as muzzled when out in public. It must also be kept in a secure location from which it cannot escape.
As the owner of a banned dog, you must be over 16, and present the certificate when requested by a police officer or council dog warden. You must also notify the Index of Exempted Dogs if you change address, or if your dog passes away.
