Dangerous dogs
If a dog has attacked a person or animal, it is a police matter and you should contact them directly. Call 101 (or 999 in emergencies only).
If you are concerned that a dog is dangerous let us know. Try to give as much information as possible about the dog - breed, colour, location etc.
Owning a dangerous dog
Specific breeds of dog are banned from the UK. It is an offence to own an unregistered banned dog.
Don’t forget, all dogs of all breeds must be microchipped. If in a public place, it is important that dogs are under the owner’s control, are wearing a collar with a tag, and that the owner cleans up the dog's mess.
XL Bully Dogs
The law regarding XL Bully dogs is changing. It’s essential that owners of this breed of dog, or someone considering getting a new one, carefully consider the implications of the new rules and prepares in advance.
As of 31 December 2023, you may not:
- sell an XL Bully dog,
- abandon an XL Bully's or allow it to stray,
- give an XL Bully dog to someone else,
- breed XL Bully puppies,
- be in a public place with an XL Bully dog that is not on a lead and muzzled.
If you already have an XL Bully dog, or get one between now and the end of December, the dog will have to be registered and have an Exemption Certificate.
To obtain a certificate, the owner must ensure:
- appropriate insurance for the dog
- that the dog is neutered
- the fee for the certificate has been paid.
Information on how to register a dog
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