Three North East XL bully owners could see their dogs be put down months after it became a criminal offence to own or possess a dog of that breed in the UK.

Courts have been cracking down on XL bully owners since a ban on the breed came in force earlier this year after a string of attacks.

Owners of XL bully breed dogs were given time to apply for an exemption to keep their dogs.

According to the gov.uk website, it’s also an offence to:

  • sell an XL Bully dog
  • abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray
  • give away an XL Bully dog
  • breed or breed from an XL Bully dog
  • have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle

Here are three dog owners that could see their dogs destroyed unless an exemption is obtained.

1. Adam Brown

Mr Brown, of 20 Dumbarton Close, Sunderland, indicated guilty at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on May 17. 

He was charged contrary to section 3(1) and (4) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 after on August 14 of last year his dog was "dangerously out of control" at Temple Park in South Shields.

He was given a contingent destruction order for his dog, of an XL bully breed to be destroyed unless an exemption is obtained within two months of the order.

2. Kerry Turnbull

Ms Turnbull, of 15 Mendip Gardens in Lobley Hill, Gateshead, pleaded guilty in her appearance at South Tyneside Magistrates Court.

She admitted breaching section 1(3) and (7) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 after she was found to own a fighting dog - namely an XL bully named Zeus.

The court ordered the dog to be destroyed and Ms Turnbull was fined £80.

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3. Nicola West

Ms West, of 52 Berwick Hills Avenue in Middlesbrough, had an application for an order for destruction of a dog otherwise than on a conviction.

An order to destroy her XL Bully, by the name of Clive, was granted - unless an exemption is obtained within two months of the order.