Committee warns that current guidance could confuse public.

MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee have called on the Government to offer more clarity to pet owners on the definition of the XL bully breed.

In a letter to Lord Benyon, minister for climate, environment and energy, the cross-party committee outlined its general support for the upcoming ban on the breed, but raised a number of issues that need to be addressed.

The MPs warned that current guidance risks owners misidentifying their dogs as XL bullies.

Under the guidance, a dog is considered an XL bully if it meets the minimum height measurements and ‘a substantial number of the characteristics in the official definition’.

In their letter, the committee point out a lack of guidance on what ‘substantial’ means in this context, which could cause confusion for members of the public and lead to dogs being registered as XL bullies which do not fit the criteria.

More than 4,000 owners have already applied to register their dog.

The MPs also called for an extension of the deadline for neutering dogs that are under seven months old on 31 January 2024, as scientific evidence suggests that neutering too young can cause health problems in large breeds. The same request has previously been made by the British Veterinary Association.

Concerns were also raised in the letter about whether there are enough experts to identify XL bullies and whether dog wardens, shelters and other relevant organisations have enough capacity and funding to cope with a potential rise in abandonments.

The impact on the mental health of those working in the veterinary and related sectors was also raised. According to the letter: ‘Early data suggest that a significant proportion of vets could refuse to euthanise a healthy animal, as they are entitled to do under their code of conduct.’

Dr Neil Hudson MP, member of the EFRA Committee and veterinary surgeon, said: “Our EFRA Committee supports the upcoming ban on XL bully dogs for public and other animal safety, but we are making recommendations to Government to help with the practical and compassionate implementation of the ban.”

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