Pet insurance implications: American XL Bully Ban in the UK

Following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities caused by American XL Bully dogs, the government has added this breed to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

The ban on the American XL Bully Dog came into force in England and Wales on 1 February 2024. This means it is illegal to own an American XL Bully dog, unless the owner has successfully applied for a Certificate of Exemption.

Since 31 December 2023, it has become a criminal offence to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow an American XL Bully to stray in England and Wales. The dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. Owners who wished to keep their dogs were given until 31 January 2024 to apply for a Certificate of Exemption.

This requires owners to have their American XL Bully microchipped, permanently neutered, kept securely so that it cannot escape and kept on a lead and always muzzled when in public.

This content sheds light on the insurance requirements for American XL Bully Owners, the importance of breed verification for UK pet insurers and how Pet Check from CRIF can provide insurers with the insight and confidence they need to:

• Instantly verify a pet’s details.
• Achieve a broader, more accurate understanding of what insuring a pet could entail.
• Ensure policies are underwritten according to the true risk involved. 
• Reduce any potential risk of accidental misrepresentation or application fraud.
• Reduce disputes with genuine customers later at the claim stage.