UK owners of existing American XL bully dogs face new rules but no cull

Dogs will have to be registered and kept leashed and muzzled in public, says chief veterinary officer

The UK's chief veterinary officer has stressed there will be an amnesty before a ban on American XL bully dogs, after an expert said the breed was behind almost half of all attacks on humans and dogs killed since 2021.

An amnesty for XL bullies would mean existing animals were not culled, but owners would be required to register and keep them leashed and muzzled in public, Christine Middlemiss said.