Police officers in Northamptonshire are sending letters to XL bully owners across the county to remind them of the new Government rules.
From February 1, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL bully in England and Wales unless the owner has a Certificate of Exemption.
And on December 31, 2023, it became against the law to sell, abandon, give away, or have an XL Bully dog in a public place without a lead and muzzle.
A spokeswoman for the force said: "If you have an XL bully, we would urge you to register your dog under the exemption scheme before the deadline, or you may be subject to prosecution and seizure.
"This is the last thing we would want to enforce, so please do as much as you can to get your application in before the deadline of 31 January 2024."
She added that officers were dedicated to educating people about the law and urged any owners with queries to get in touch.
Who can be exempt?
To qualify for an exemption certificate, owners must prove their XL bully has been neutered.
If the pup is less than a year old by January 31, they must be neutered by the end of 2024, and evidence must be provided.
A certificate of exemption for each dog will last their lifetime.
How to apply for an exemption?
The window for owners to apply for an exemption certificate closes at midday on January 31, meaning that owners don't have much longer to apply to keep their dogs, or face potential criminal proceedings and an unlimited fine.
As part of the application, you’ll be asked to provide:
the £92.40 exemption scheme fee (per dog)
details for your dog
their microchip number – you can look this up online or ask your vet if you're unsure about this
third party public liability insurance start date
your details and date of birth (you need to be at least 16 years old to own an XL bully type)
What happens if I own an XL bully after the deadline?
Owners of an XL Bully dog who do not want to apply for a Certificate of Exemption must arrange for their dog to be euthanised by an RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon by January 31.
