New figures, released by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and obtained by the BBC, show that almost 3,500 banned dogs are still living in homes with their owners.
The majority of these dogs were found to be Pit Bull Terriers, with 3,316 dogs reported in England, and 149 in Wales.
An exemption scheme
There are currently four breeds on the banned list of the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act: the Dogo Argentino, the Pit Bull Terrier, the Fila Brasileiro, and the Japanese Tosa.
Under an exemption scheme, these breeds, or dogs considered to be "of type", may be allowed to stay with their owners.
Under the scheme, each dog must undergo a behavioural assessment, and the court must be satisfied they don't pose a danger to the public. They have to be kept on-lead and muzzled at all times in public. Owners are also required to take out third party insurance.
With thousands of dogs still living in their homes under this scheme, what does this mean for the future of the American XL Bully?
The American XL Bully
Having been linked by campaigners to the death of 11 people since 2021, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for a ban on the American XL Bully in the UK.
But, as a cross of breeds, including the American Bulldog and the English Bulldog, urgent work is needed to define the breed standard. There are fears among rescue groups and bully advocates that breed-specific bans are ineffective, and in many cases may lead to healthy family pets being put down.
For many, a ban is simply not the solution, and a focus should instead be placed on promoting responsible ownership and reducing attacks.
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey confirmed this week that the UK government is "pretty close" to bringing forward the ban, which would affect the 10-15,000 American XL Bullies estimated to live in the UK.
