- American bully XLs Implementation
- Veterinarian Capacity Concerns
- Legal Ramifications and Challenges
Dog rescue organizations are concerned that abandoned Bulldog XL dogs will increase if veterinarians cannot meet the demands of a ban that goes into effect the following month.
Breed owners will be required to euthanize their canines or have them neutered, microchipped, and exempt.
Owners may have “nowhere else to turn” if veterinarians are unable to assist, according to a warning from the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH).
“Quick and decisive action” was taken, according to the government, to safeguard the public.
It follows the assertion made by the founder of a pet rescue center that dogs were abandoned and “massively killed” as a result of the government’s prohibition on American Bully XLs.
As the number of fatal attacks increased, the government passed the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 and outlawed the breed.
Canines that remain in the care of their owners must be microchipped and neutered. After January 2024, owners must register their dogs on the Index of Exempted Dogs.
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The dog must be neutered by the end of the year if it is less than a year old on January 31. Otherwise, it must be neutered by June 30.
The “postal lottery”
Owners who surrender their dog by January 31 must have it euthanized by a vet and receive a £200 refund.
The ADCH, a representative charity for dog and cat rehoming organizations throughout the United Kingdom, expressed numerous concerns regarding the implementation of the moratorium, “especially regarding the capacity of veterinarians to perform euthanasia and neutering” and “healthy dogs being euthanized against the will of veterinarians for ethical reasons.
Veterinarian Morals and Ethical Dilemmas
The charity expressed concern that these factors could lead to a postcode lottery regarding the assistance provided to owners in euthanizing or neutering their aggressive XLs and potentially escalate abandonment rates for those who have no other options.
Rebecca Taylor, a locum veterinarian in Dorset, stated that she would not euthanize “healthy” Bulldog XLs.
She stated, “I use the term healthy to encompass not only their physical health but also their behaviour and mental health.
“A dog with serious behavioural issues is not healthy in my opinion, nor in the opinion of many other veterinarians.”
“However, my morals and principles dictate that I did not become a veterinarian to put down healthy animals… That is not justifiable.
According to the Code of Professional Conduct of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, “veterinary surgeons are not obligated to kill healthy animals unless doing so is mandated by statutory powers or their employment conditions.”
Ms. Taylor also raised concerns regarding the potential challenge for veterinarians. Managing euthanasia and sterilization requests in regions with a higher concentration of aggressive XLs was highlighted as a particular concern.
There was more in London when I worked closer to the city center. She states that there will be more opportunities if I work in Middlesbrough.
“Currently, I find myself in a rural area devoid of any.”
It is more complicated to have canines travel across the country to be neutered. Furthermore, they would have to travel a considerable distance after the procedure, and should they develop any complications. They would still be required to visit their local veterinarian.
Capacity Constraints and Professional Testimonies
David Martin, an animal welfare counsel for the industry-leading veterinary group IVC Evidensia, testified before a government committee in October that 94% of 200 new employees surveyed said they would not euthanize a healthy Bully XL without behavioral issues.
Veterinary professionals would have sufficient kennel space to house 40,000 Jack Russells for the day if the government requested that they neuter 40,000 of them within six months, he said, adding that space would be a “limiting factor” for “40,000 very large dogs.”
Due to the shortage of kennel space for anesthetic recovery, we could only do one or two surgeries per day.
It will be illegal to sell, abandon, donate, propagate, or possess a Bully XL in public without a leash and muzzle beginning on December 31.
Without an exemption certificate, owning a Bully XL dog in England and Wales will be illegal on February 1, 2024. The offender will be subject to an unlimited fine and forfeiture of the dog.
Future Challenges for Rescue Centres and Pet Owners
After the December deadline, American Bulldog XLs in rescue centers will be “stuck” there indefinitely or put down. Ms. Taylor stated that rehoming them will be illegal.
Exempting a Bully XL requires castration and third-party public liability insurance in addition to the £92.40 application fee.
All dogs, regardless of breed, must be microchipped by eight weeks.
Ms. Taylor said this “chunk of money” that owners didn’t intend to spend could be challenging for some.
The Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs advised owners of Bully XLs. Alternative veterinarians or practices were recommended if their vets refused to euthanize their pet.
The XL Bully breed has been added to the list of dogs prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act to safeguard the public from tragic dog attacks,” a spokesperson said. “We have taken swift and decisive action in this regard.
“Before January 31, 2024, proprietors of XL Bully-type canines are presented with the decision of either procuring a Certificate of Exemption or having their pet euthanised by a veterinarian.”
We actively collaborate with law enforcement agencies, canine and veterinary professionals, and animal welfare organizations to advance these critical initiatives.
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