XL bully ban: Couple considers move to Scotland

Leon Steele and Lois Marshall own two-year-old XL bully Mika

A couple with an XL bully say they're considering a move to Scotland where the dogs aren't banned.

From next month, it will be a criminal offence to own the breed in England and Wales without a special certificate.

New rules introduced in both countries this week have already made it illegal to breed, sell, or walk an XL bully in public without a lead and a muzzle.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the ban is needed to "protect the public from devastating dog attacks".

The new law was introduced after a series of attacks involving the breed, some of them fatal, but lots of owners insist the dogs make good pets.

Lois Marshall, 24 and Leon Steele, 25, from Hebburn, near South Shields, say their life with XL bully Mika has changed since the ban was announced.

They said they would regularly take the two-year-old pooch out for hour-long walks and playing with sticks was her "favourite part of the day" - but being required to wear a muzzle means she can't do this any more.

"I actually stopped going some places where we used to go, because you could just tell that some of the owners were no longer receptive of Mika from what they'd seen in the press," Lois tells BBC Newsbeat.

The couple say they're planning a weekly drive of about 80 miles to the Scottish border.

"Every week, on a weekend we're gonna drive up to the border so she can still run around and carry her sticks and stuff, so that her life hasn't just changed completely," Lois tells BBC Newsbeat.

"We're even thinking about moving to Scotland," Leon adds.

Mika has been microchipped and the couple have taken out insurance

From 1 February it will be a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without a Certificate of Exemption.

To get one, you have to microchip the XL bully, take out public liability insurance and neuter it.

"It's quite a big cost to pull out, especially just after Christmas when people don't really have the money," Lois says.

According to the restrictions, first announced in September, the dogs also have to be kept on a muzzle, with a lead, at all times in public.

In Scotland, where the government has not introduced a ban, animal shelters have reported an increase in XL dogs being rehomed.

Some charities say a ban won't be effective, but campaigners have criticised Scottish ministers for failing to take action on the issue.

Lois believes that not all XL bullys are dangerous, and it is a case of owners not treating them correctly, but does believe people owners of large breeds should need a licence.

"The problem that we're now faced with is these owners who've owned these vicious dogs who haven't brought them up properly are not being penalised," she says.

"It's the breed who's been penalised.

"I think there should be checks. I think you should be able to prove that you're a responsible owner, that the dog's been kept securely and in the right conditions to prevent this happening in the future with another dog breed."

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• Scots taking XL Bullies as England cracks down

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: "The prime minister pledged to take quick and decisive action to protect the public from devastating dog attacks with measures in place by the end of 2023.

"We have met that pledge - it is now a legal requirement for XL Bully dogs to be muzzled and on a lead in public. It is also now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray.

"All XL Bully owners are expected to comply with the law and we will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, with further restrictions on XL Bully dogs coming into force on 1 February."

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