First individual in England sentenced for maintaining unlawful XL Bully underneath new legal guidelines | EUROtoday

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A canine proprietor has grow to be the primary to be sentenced for illegally possessing an XL Bully canine in breach of recent legal guidelines.

Patrick McKeown, 40, is the primary identified individual to be prosecuted underneath the legal guidelines which got here into power on 1 February.

McKeown failed to use for an exemption for his XL Bully, and in addition didn’t neuter the canine or receive insurance coverage.

It was reported that the canine was additionally seen free within the yard of the property in Worthing, West Sussex, police stated.

McKeown warned officers his canine would assault anybody who approached it. Officers executed a warrant on the handle and the canine was seized.

The former builder admitted one rely of possessing or having a preventing canine, opposite to the Dangerous Dogs Act, at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on March 12.

The court docket imposed a one-year group order, requiring him to finish 100 hours of unpaid work. McKeown was additionally ordered to pay £85 prices and a £114 surcharge.

The court docket imposed an order for the destruction of the canine, pending an attraction.

Chief inspector Simon Starns, who’s the power lead for responding to harmful canine, stated: “This was one of the first cases of its type to be prosecuted in Sussex.

“It demonstrates to the public that owners have a responsibility to ensure that they comply with the new laws which are now in force.

“We continue to work closely with partners to ensure dogs are kept safe through responsible ownership and to reduce the risk to the public.

“We continue to ask all dog owners to comply with Government guidance on the ownership of the XL Bully breed of dog.

“This includes ensuring that all XL Bully breed dogs are muzzled and kept on a lead held by someone aged over 16 when in public places.”

It turned a legal offence to personal an XL Bully in England and Wales with no certificates from 1 February.

It follows restrictions which got here into power on the finish of final yr which imply the canine should be stored on a lead and muzzled in public.