According to recent government data, about 3,500 canine breeds that are prohibited in the UK are lawfully allowed to reside in homes in Scotland, England, and Wales thanks to an exemption program, as reported by BBC News.
As of right now, the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 prohibits the following four breeds in the United Kingdom: Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and Pit Bull Terriers. The majority of prohibited dogs that are permitted to live lawfully with their owners are Pit Bull Terriers, according to data made public by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) in the United Kingdom.
However, by the end of this year, the British government intends to add the American Bully XL to the list of prohibited breeds. Authorities claimed that their decision was influenced by the regular reports of deadly attacks involving this species.
The operation of the Banned Dogs in the UK’s exemption program
Dogs classified as prohibited breeds may only reside with their owners under the exemption plan if they complete a behavioral evaluation mandated by the court.
A dog that “passes” the test has proven to the court that it poses no risk to the public. Next, the prohibited breed is registered by the authorities with the U.K. Index of Exempted Dogs.
Apart from being tested, the owner of the dog has to adhere to additional stringent guidelines to avoid the government taking their dog or worse, putting it down. Among these limitations are:
- granting authorities a certificate of exemption upon request
- ensuring that their dog is always leashed and wearing a muzzle in public
- yearly enrollment in third-party insurance
A Pit Bull owner’s firsthand account
Lola, a 7-year-old Pit Bull Terrier, is owned by Anita Mehdi. She recently recounted an event from 2019 in which Lola was taken into custody by UK police following reports of the dog from the general public.
“It felt like my entire universe came apart. Mehdi said, “They left me crying in the road while they locked her in a cage, closed the door, and drove off.
Thankfully, Lola passed the behavioral assessment after completing it. The judge permitted Mehdi to keep her dog as a result.
Mehdi, who now strictly abides by all regulations about prohibited canines registered under the exemption system, is motivated by her past experiences. “I consider the limitations to be very important. She remarked, “I wouldn’t risk having Lola put to sleep and put to death.”
She further added, “She’s just my whole world.” I therefore do it because I love her even though I don’t like it.
