One XL bully is seized every week in Rotherham

Image: XL Bully stock image (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

There have been 21 American XL Bully dogs seized in Rotherham since July 2023, shows Rotherham Reveal’s enquiry to South Yorkshire Police. 

On average, this means one dog is removed every week from homes in Rotherham. 

The Freedom of information request was placed on the 23 October. It found the number of dogs seized from the Rotherham area had almost quadrupled, from 79 in 2020 to 312 in 2023, with Staffordshire Bull Terriers and XL bully dogs amongst the most likely breeds to be removed. 

This information comes after Rishi Sunak announced on 31 October more information regarding the American XL bully dog ban in England and Wales, which was prompted after 10 deaths, including three children, were recorded in 2021 across the UK. 

In Tuesday’s announcement, the government urged owners to start training their dog to wear a muzzle and walk on a lead and told breeders to now stop mating XL bully dogs in anticipation of the new restrictions.

Breed characteristics were also announced, with the official definition being a “Large dog with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for its size. Powerfully built individual.”

By law, dogs can be removed for a number of reasons by police including being an illegal breed. Four types of dog are already banned in the UK – The pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro.

Whilst the XL bully will not be considered a ‘Banned Breed’ until 2024, they can be removed if there is reason to suspect they may be displaying ‘Aggressive Behaviour’ 

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “We are taking quick and decisive action to protect the public from tragic dog attacks and today I have added the XL Bully type to the list of dogs prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act.  

“It will soon become a criminal offence to breed, sell, advertise, rehome or abandon an XL Bully type dog, and they must also be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.

“In due course it will also be illegal to own one of these dogs without an exemption.

“We will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, as we take forward these important measures.”

The FOI also revealed that dog-related crime had doubled in the area since 2020, with 88 counts of crime occurring in 2020 to 151 in 2023.

This can range from assault with injury to person in charge of the dog allowing them to be dangerously out of control in a public place injuring any person.

South Yorkshire Police were unable to provide a breed breakdown of seized/reported dogs by breed earlier than those dated for July 2023 due to changes made to their system of registration.  

The RSPCA has warned in response that they are preparing for “abandonments” of XL Bully dogs to rise once the ban on the breed is enforced.

The charity has not yet recorded an increase in reports of abandonment and were unable to comment on the number of seized XL Bully dogs in the Rotherham area.