ENGLAND AND WALES — New legislation laid in Parliament makes it illegal to leave children under 12 unattended with dangerous dogs. The rules take effect on November 1, 2024, as an extension of existing restrictions on exempt dogs of banned breeds.
People who violate the new rule face fines and seizure of their dogs. Ownership of XL bullies, an American pitbull-type breed capable of weighing up to 60 kilograms, is restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Since February 1, 2024, owning an XL bully without an exemption certificate is a criminal offence.
Animal welfare minister Sue Hayman said, "No child should ever be left alone with a dangerous dog. These rules are about putting safety of children first." A 10-year-old girl and a nine-month-old baby died last year after being attacked by XL bullies.
Dr Samantha Gaines, a dog welfare expert and lead on dog control, said, "Our advice to all parents with dogs is to never leave kids and dogs alone, unsupervised." She added, "The bond between dogs and children can be absolutely wonderful, but it's important to remember that pets and young kids communicate very differently and, no matter how well we think we know our dogs, there are sometimes instances when they bite."
Gaines said, "Children are more likely to get bitten than adults – so we agree with the basis of this requirement, which can also kickstart a public debate around how we keep young children safe around all dogs." She added, "However, we're really disappointed that restricting this requirement solely to section 1 dogs further compounds the idea that some dogs are dangerous and others aren't purely because of how they look. Any dog – whether a banned type or not – has the potential to bite and we want to remind all dog owners that they should never leave dogs and children unsupervised."