XL Bully owners given thousands in compensation as charities slam controversial ban

Twenty owners of XL Bully dogs have received compensation from the Scottish Government after their pets were put down as a result of a controversial ban on the animals.

The overall number of dogs destroyed in other parts of the UK is higher than Scotland, with some being handed in to animal rescue charities, which were then required to have them put down.

Last week animal care ­charities and owners of the breed criticised the Scottish ban, saying it did not address underlying problems around dangerous dogs, and that it was rushed into law.

Compensations claims

A Freedom of Information (FoI) request by The Sunday Post revealed that, as of August, there have been 19 claims for £200 compensation to help cover the cost of euthanasia and for the loss of the dog.

The Scottish Government also received one claim for £100 compensation from an individual for the loss of their dog only, with no costs being sought for euthanisation of the animal.

XL Bullies, which are the ­largest kind of American bully dog, are not recognised as a specific breed and the UK Government released guidance to help identify them.

The breed was officially banned in Scotland earlier this year, with owners of the breed required to apply for an ­exemption to allow them to keep their dog.

The price of euthanisation of a dog in the UK can vary depending on size and breed, and can range from £80 to £200.

The Office for National Statistics showed 16 deaths as a result of dog attacks in the first nine months of 2023, compared to six in the whole of 2022.

So far this year, seven fatal dog incidents have occurred, with only three involving an XL Bully. There are no official figures for the number of XL Bullies euthanised in Scotland, but the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs had received 400 compensation claims for XL Bully dogs in England and Wales.

Calls for legislation review

Both Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home and the SSPCA had XL Bullies in their rescues centres, which had to be euthanised as a result of the ban, but declined to give exact numbers .

However, the SSPCA said the safeguards introduced by the Scottish Government were “not the solution to the issue when it comes to preventing dog ­control issues”.

Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, also disagreed with the ban. She said: “Adding XL Bully-type dogs to this banned-breed list, in our opinion, falls short of understanding the real challenges happening in communities up and down the country where their breeding practices, control and training is not effective. We feel there is a need to look at dog control as a wider issue of public safety, which is not breed-specific.”

The ban was put in place in Scotland due to large numbers of XL Bullies being transported over the border after a ban was introduced in England.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home said it was disappointed when the XL Bully ban was introduced in England. The charity’s policy manager, Scott Fryer, said: “We were incredibly disappointed when the previous government chose to ban the XL Bully rather than tackle the serious issue at the root cause.

“By continuing to focus on specific breeds rather than prioritising prevention, early intervention, education and better enforcement of penalties for irresponsible owners, the legislation remains unfit for purpose.”

Dogs Trust has urged the government to review current legislation for XL Bully owners.

A spokesperson said: “For more than 30 years, Dogs Trust has been calling on the governments in both Westminster and Holyrood to overhaul the Dangerous Dogs Act. We want them to instead tackle the root issue by introducing preventative, breed-neutral legislation to address owners whose dogs are out of control and unscrupulous breeders who are ­putting profit before welfare.

“An issue causing confusion and frustration for owners of exempt XL bullies in Scotland is currently the rules prevent owners from taking their pet to other parts of the UK as exemption certificates are not valid across the UK. This needs to change.

“The government must urgently review the current legislation. We instead need to see effective and preventative breed-neutral dog control legislation and policy that is welfare compatible across the UK.”

Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said: “XL Bully dog laws support responsible ownership and public safety as effectively as possible. The Scottish Government continues to engage closely with Police Scotland, local authorities, the SSPCA and others to help ensure effective implementation of the safeguards. We have no plans to reopen legislation.”