American bully XL ban will hit responsible owners, says campaigner

Sophie Coulthard says her dog Billy is "everything that I wanted for in a pet"

A bully XL owner in south-west London has said a ban on the dog breed will "only affect responsible bully owners".

The government ban, which takes effect on New Year's Eve, means breeding, selling, advertising, rehoming, abandoning and allowing an American bully XL dog to stray will be illegal.

Sophie Coulthard is challenging the ban in the courts.

The breed is being added to the list of banned dogs after people were savaged or killed by them in several attacks.

The second stage of the ban takes effect from 1 February when it will be illegal to own an bully XL, unless the owner has successfully applied for it to be exempt.

• What is an American bully XL and why are they being banned?

• RSPCA seeks judicial review into XL bully dog ban

• Applications for American bully XL exemptions open

Ms Coulthard told BBC News: "I think the ban really will only affect responsible bully owners because it will be people like myself that will comply with the law, that will go out with our dog muzzled at all times - which is not very good in terms of animal welfare."

Ms Coulthard said the new rules on exempted American bullies will negatively impact her dog's lifestyle

American bully owners with an exemption will also have to keep their dogs on the lead at all times in public.

"This is really going to affect our lifestyle and the life that we've built," she said.

'Everybody loves him'

"Nobody gets a dog anticipating that they'll have to be muzzled at all times, so for us, some of the journeys that we do, some of the places that we go, like going to the pub for example, is going to be difficult because it's not fair for him to be on a muzzle for long periods of time."

She said her dog Billy, an American bully, has "lived up to everything that I wanted for in a pet" and "everybody loves him".

Following government announcement of the ban, Ms Coulthard and other owners of the breed started the Don't Ban Me, Licence Me campaign which advocates that all dogs should be licensed instead of breed-specific bans.

She said this method has been more effective at increasing responsible dog ownership across all breeds in other countries.

They have crowdfunded more than £175,000 to support the campaign.

The group is challenging the ban in court and has asked for a judicial review of the decision.

The government said it is banning the American bullies over a rise in fatal attacks (stock image)

Ms Coulthard said they recently lost a bid to seek an injunction to ensure American bullies in dog shelters are not euthanised from Sunday onwards.

She said the government has not given shelters enough time to rehome the dogs before the first stage of the ban takes effect. The legal action is continuing.

Dr Susan Paterson from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, told Radio 4's Today programme: "We are probably going to see dogs left tied up to railings, at veterinary surgeries, tied up outside supermarkets."

The government said it is banning the breed to protect the public from dog attacks following a rise in fatalities.

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