XL bully dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public under new restrictions put into place today (December 31) in England and Wales.
Breeding, selling or abandoning the dogs has also become illegal as of Sunday, with owners being urged to apply for a certificate of exemption for current pets before the January 31 deadline.
From February 1, it will be criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without a certificate.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said the Government had met its pledge to take “quick and decisive action” following a series of attacks, with one man dying after being attacked by one of the dogs earlier this year.
READ MORE: Scottish shelter rescues XL bullies from England and Wales before ban
But will there be a ban on XL bully dogs in Scotland?
That is yet to be determined. The Scottish Government has not made a decision to ban the breed yet, although it has said evidence will be reviewed.
A spokesperson previously said: “We are carefully considering the evidence as to whether changes to ban the XL bully dogs and breed will be applied in Scotland.”
Humza Yousaf has also previously confirmed he had asked his officials “to liaise with the UK Government to understand a little bit more about the proposals in relation to the ban”.
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Speaking on a visit to a nursery in Rutherglen in September, the First Minister added: “We have not made a firm decision yet.”
With SNP backbencher Christine Grahame bringing forward a member’s bill to Holyrood on dog welfare, Yousaf said that proposed legislation could mean “there may be opportunities to consider a ban up here in Scotland”.
But he stated: “We haven’t come to a firm conclusion on that.”
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