PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Provide a legal pathway to “de-exempt” XL Bully dogs exempted as a precaution
In October 2023, DEFRA and the Chief Veterinary Officer advised owners unsure of their dog’s breed type to “take a precautionary approach” & obtain a certificate of exemption “to be safe.” As ordinary owners are not trained breed assessors, thousands complied in good faith to avoid criminalisation.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
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Government response threshold (10,000) · 4,524/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 4,524/100,000
Background
Many of these dogs may not meet the legal “type”, yet two years later there is still no pathway or reassessment to allow de-exemption.
As a result, we believe dogs' welfare is unfairly compromised by lifelong restrictions imposed solely because their owners followed Government advice. The Secretary of State and DEFRA must now prioritise establishing a clear and fair de-exemption process.