The Know Daily - Thursday 1 February 2024

_{Read in 5m 34s ∙ Listening to Tyla ∙ Share us to your socials ☝️}

Some good news from down under: a critically endangered, “truffle-loving” marsupial called a woylie is making a comeback in Western Australia, thanks to a wildlife recovery programme. 34 woylies were found in a forest south-east of Perth last year, up from just two in 2019.

🦴 XL bully ban

From today, it is a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate. 

How does the ban work?
Owners had until midday yesterday to register their XL bully on the Index of Exempted Dogs, under legislation announced last year after a “sharp increase” in dog attacks, said The Guardian.

Owners of unregistered dogs now face a “criminal record and an unlimited fine” and the dog could be seized, said the government. Registered dogs must be muzzled and kept on a lead in public, and breeding or selling them is illegal.

How many have been registered?
More than 30,000 XL bullies have been registered - but the true number in the UK is thought to be “much higher”, said the BBC.

So is a ban really practical?
It depends on who you ask. The RSPCA has warned that thousands of owners are set to breach the new laws, with a spokesperson telling the BBC they would rather see a “targeting of individual dogs and owners” than a breed-specific ban. 

Concerns have also been raised that the police may be unable to deal with the sheer number of seized dogs, reported The Guardian - but a spokesperson for the force said they were “working actively” to increase the amount of kennel space available.

What next?
The police have urged the public to report any XL bully owners who are not complying with the new rules, so that officers can assess the animals. 

Restrictions come into force in Scotland from 23 February, when XL bullies must be muzzled and on a lead in public from that date. From 31 July, it will be an offence to own one without an exemption certificate.