Isle of Man XL Bully ban

What is an XL Bully dog

The XL Bully is not a recognised breed but is classified based on physical characteristics. These dogs are typically muscular, with a blocky head and significant strength. They are the largest variety of the American Bully breed.

Why can’t they be imported

XL Bully's were added to the Isle of Man's list of restricted dog types/breeds in November 2023, in line with UK legislation aimed at protecting public safety and animal welfare. In recent years, the type has been disproportionately involved in severe and fatal dog attacks on people in the UK.

Who is Charlie and why was he seized

Charlie is a XL Bully type dog that was seized by Isle of Man police last year. His owner later admitted possessing him after illegally importing him and was fined.

What happened next

Under the Wild Animals (Restriction on Importation etc.) Act 1980, the owner of an illegally imported dog has one month to claim that it is not subject to forfeiture.

In this case, this period expired on 3 April 2024. As no claim was received, the dog was considered forfeited by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

DEFA determined that euthanasia was the most appropriate outcome in order to reinforce the legislation and protect public safety. Sadly, Charlie was put to sleep on 30 April 2025.

Why was euthanasia the only option

Manx law was introduced to prevent any further imports of XL Bully Type Dogs to the Isle of Man in order to gradually reduce the number of these dogs and protect public safety.

Having considered a number of options, the conclusion was that euthanasia was the only outcome that did not compromise the intention and spirit of the legislation.

Are there any statistics on dog attacks involving XL Bullies

Last year, the Guardian reported that between 2021-23 XL Bully Type Dogs were responsible for around half of the fatal dog attacks on humans in England, where there were nearly 11,000 hospital admissions due to dog bites alone between 2023-24.

Are there any other XL Bully-type dogs in the Isle of Man

Yes. While it is not illegal to own an XL Bully-type dog in the Isle of Man, it is illegal to possess one that was imported after the 23 November 2023. There are no reliable figures on the number of XL Bully Type dogs in the Isle of Man.

What is the Government doing to address concerns

The Isle of Man Government is committed to handling these cases with transparency, compassion, and care. We have worked to ensure that all stakeholders understand the legal framework, rationale, and process behind this difficult decision.