Bully XL ban a 'personal attack', says owner

Amy Fox says adding American bully XLs to the UK's list of banned dogs equates to an "indirect cull"

A dog owner has said a looming ban on keeping American bully XLs without permission "feels like a personal attack".

Amy Fox, from Sheffield, said her 32kg (5st) pet Ace was "part of our family" and that the breed was being "stereotyped" after a spate of dog attacks this year.

American bully XL owners now have to apply for an exemption to keep their dogs before a ban comes into force on 1 February next year.

Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher said the legislation was the right thing to do.

'Indirect cull'

Ms Fox described Ace, who is heavier than her seven year-old son, as an "absolute soppy mess".

Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, she said: "I feel like it's a personal attack on me and my family, because the dog is a part of our family.

"It's an indirect cull that the government has put on the dogs now.

"They're now offering £200 towards the costs of putting your dog to sleep, but they're not going to help me with the £200 I need to put towards neutering my dog."

Ms Fox said she believed the government's definition of American bully XLs was too vague and that people were mistaking other dangerous dogs for the breed.

Ms Fox describes Ace as an "absolute soppy mess"

"If a dog has big shoulders with a big head it's considered an XL bully now," she added.

Under the legislation coming into force in the new year, bully owners will have to apply for an exemption to keep their pets.

They must also ensure their dog is microchipped and kept on a lead and muzzled while in public.

A petition against the move has drawn 600,000 signatures from across the country.

But Tory MP Mr Fletcher backed the new rules, saying it was the first job of government to "protect its citizens".

He told the BBC: "There's a huge difference between a bite from a small dog and a bite from an XL bully.

"The damage they can do is absolutely horrific.

"Lots of people seem to think it doesn't matter until something happens to them.

"I understand how upsetting this will be for some people, but the protection has to be there for the public and that's what the government has decided to do."

On Tuesday, Environment Secretary Therese Coffey, who is responsible for bringing in the legislation, said she had received death threats over the ban.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].