DEFRA announces XL Bully Certificate Withdrawal Service

ADCH is delighted that Defra have finally agreed an exemption scheme which permits owners of XL Bullies to exempt their dogs if they don’t believe they are now required to be exempted by the legislation.  Any responsible owners who used the exemption process can now apply to withdraw their dogs from the scheme.

This is particularly good for owners whose dogs were still puppies when the ban was introduced, and have grown into dogs that do not meet the type.  Further details can be found here.

Whilst the exemption process doesn’t apply to rescues, there are implications for rescues. It should help reduce abandonment of these dogs and so reduce pressure on rescues. There is also advice for rescues on the Defra site for anyone handing over a de-exempted dog: the rescue must make its own assessment if it believes the dog to be an XL Bully (withdrawal of the certificate does not prove the dog is not of a XL Bully type) and you should ask to see the withdrawal certificate, or Defra can confirm it a certificate has been issued.