Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, owning a dog that is dangerously out of control is illegal, no matter the breed
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued an update on dangerous dogs after calls to end breed bans in the UK. These demands form part of an ongoing parliamentary petition urging for a greater focus on ‘responsible ownership’ and behaviour-based laws over rules that ‘unfairly’ target certain breeds.
While the Government department acknowledged that ‘some people are opposed to breed-specific legislation’, it stressed the importance of ‘balance’ to ensure the public is protected from dog attacks. In light of this, the breeding and ownership of dogs like XL Bullies, Pit Bull Terriers and several others will remain a criminal offence.
On January 8, Defra said: “The government recognises that some people are opposed to breed-specific legislation. However, we must balance the views of those who want to repeal or amend breed-specific legislation with our responsibility to ensure that the public is properly protected from dog attacks.
“Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits the ownership, breeding, gifting and sale of five types of dogs: the Pit Bull terrier, the Dogo Argentino, the Fila Brasileiro, the Japanese Tosa and the XL Bully.
“The ban of these dog breeds is there to protect public safety, and it is a criminal offence to be in possession of a banned breed type in England and Wales unless the dog is covered by a Certificate of Exemption.”
XL Bullies were added to the list of prohibited breeds in February 2024 after a reported increase in dog attacks. The UK Government asserts that a ‘disproportionate’ number of XL Bullies contributed to this rise, and is keen to ensure that communities remain protected from ‘dangerous dogs’ such as these.
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Defra also added that police and local authorities have various additional powers available to tackle both dangerous dogs and irresponsible dog ownership. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, owning a dog that is dangerously out of control is illegal, no matter the breed.
Defra’s response continued: “Any dog that is dangerously out of control can be euthanised, and the owner could be put in prison for up to 14 years and banned from ever owning a dog. Community Protection Notices and Public Space Protection Orders can also be used to address anti-social behaviour involving dogs.
“On wider responsible dog ownership, Defra is working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to help prevent further attacks. We will do this together by encouraging responsible dog ownership, making sure dog control issues are addressed before they escalate, and using the full force of the law where needed.
“As part of this work, the government has reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce to explore measures to promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. Ministers will be receiving its findings and recommendations in due course.”
Beyond this, Defra stated that it is ‘considering the role of education and training’ for dogs and their owners to help mitigate the threat of dog attacks. Improvements to data collection are also being looked at, so Defra is in a ‘better position to take action’.
It added: “The Department will continue this work and do its utmost to reduce the risk to people and communities from dangerous dogs.”
Currently, the petition titled ‘Change the DDA 1991 to stop breed bans and focus on behaviour’ has gained more than 11,000 signatures. If it reaches 100,000, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.
You can read the petition and Defra’s response in full here.
