Statement from Andrew Rosindell M.P. on the XL Bully Ban
I begin the new year extremely disappointed and saddened by the Government’s ill-thought-out decision to ban the American XL-Bully breed of dog.Whilst the deaths that have come about have been incredibly tragic, it is my view, and that of the majority of animal welfare organisations and charities, that it is irresponsible ownership and back-yard breeding that is the root cause of these horrific attacks.
My stance follows the principle of 'deed not breed' - owners should be held to account for these fatal incidents - this would ensure responsible ownership, and would cause a fall in deaths or injuries involving dogs of any breed.
The introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991 has caused the legalised euthanasia of thousands of dogs, simply on the basis of their breed - nothing to do with any history of bad behaviour. This act was implemented without any consideration of practical implication. This lack of serious thought has continued to the present day. The government should have learnt from previous mistakes.
The time, finances and resources that will need to be allocated to this poorly planned policy will be heavily disproportionate to the outcome. Any funding plans are yet to be publicised, which is incredibly worrying considering how soon the ban is due to take place.
In my view, all dogs should be microchipped and registered, and if someone chooses to own a breed perceived as riskier than others, such as XL Bullies, then owners should be required to obtain a license as responsible and suitable custodians of these dogs. Breed-specific legislation is cruel, disliked by experts, and, in my view, harms far more people and animals than it helps.
With licensing and registering legislation, unfit individuals would be caught far more effectively and be able to be placed under criminal charges. Eventually, little to no dogs would be subjected to poor ownership or abuse.
It is impossible to justify the separation of hundreds of innocent dogs from their owners, and even more so to rationalise their deaths simply due to their breed.
I will be writing to the Prime Minister to urge him to change his mind on this poorly constructed policy, and to speak with the Secretary of State for DEFRA to re-evaluate the Government’s approach to regulating dog ownership.
I have also submitted several Written Parliamentary Questions on the matter, which you can find linked on my website.
As the former owner of two beloved Staffordshire Bull Terriers, ‘Spike’ and ‘Buster’, I understand more than most M.P.s how these types of dogs are not naturally aggressive in nature, but when looked after and trained properly, they are incredibly loyal and loving pets.
This is why I will continue to do my utmost to stand up for all the owners that are affected by this ban, and their poor dogs due to be subjected to separation from their families, and potentially even death.
I call upon the Prime Minister to delay the implementation of this policy under full consideration of the implications are made in collaboration with respected dog organisations and dog charities who have the knowledge to assist in finding a solution that will protect the public and ensure the welfare all the dogs.
Dogs are ‘man’s best friend’ and Britain is a nation of animal lovers. The government need to show that they understand this, before many innocent family pets suffer.
