Police are destroying 100 dogs every month since XL bullies were banned - with kenneling costs for seized pets at £25million
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Police chiefs have put forward 'a strong request' for funding to help enforce the ban on XL Bully dogs. An investigation has found that police have destroyed more than three dangerous dogs a day on average since the XL Bully ban came in nearly a year ago.
![[Patrick McKeown (pictured), 40, became the first known person in the UK to be prosecuted under the dangerous dog laws in April. His XL Bully is pictured on the right]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/07/83143453-14208937-Patrick_McKeown_pictured_40_became_the_first_known_person_in_the-m-15_1734592717694.jpg)
Forces in England and Wales say the cost of kennelling thousands of seized dogs, often for several months at a time, is now costing the taxpayer £25million a year - with many facilities at full capacity. The National Police Chief Council (NPCC) says that the law has put significant pressure on police forces and added an 'incredible' amount of extra costs.
![[McKeown, a former builder who lived on Church Road, Tarring, is pictured with his dog's chain around his neck]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/07/83143455-14208937-McKeown_a_former_builder_who_lived_on_Church_Road_Tarring_admitt-a-3_1734591723484.jpg)
Despite dangerous dogs being seized and destroyed, the number of attacks shows no sign of falling in many areas. A BBC Freedom of Information request found that out of 25 police forces that responded, 22 said they predict they will see more reported incidents this year.
Lisa Willis, who was attacked by an XL Bully months after the ban came into force on December 31 last year, said the law was 'useless'. She said that the owners of dogs like the one that mauled her arm should not be allowed to buy further animals. The owner of the dog that attacked her replaced his dog 'within weeks'.
![[Since February, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/07/93268695-14208937-Since_February_it_has_been_a_criminal_offence_to_own_an_XL_bully-a-5_1734591737061.jpg)
Christopher Bell (pictured) with his tan and white XL Bully called Titan which attacked a dog walker in October. Patrick McKeown (pictured), 40, became the first known person in the UK to be prosecuted under the dangerous dog laws in April. His XL Bully is pictured on the right.
![[It comes amid a spate of high-profile attacks including this one captured on CCTV in Birmingham in September 2023]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/07/93268669-14208937-The_former_Conservative_government_introduced_new_restrictions_o-a-6_1734591756459.jpg)
