Deadline passes for XL bully owners to apply for exemption to keep pets
The deadline has passed for owners of XL bully dogs to apply for certificates of exemption to keep their pets before a ban on the breed comes into force.
From Thursday, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL bully in England and Wales without a certificate.
Applications had to be submitted by midday on Wednesday.
According to the RSPCA, the Government last week said 30,000 dogs had been registered, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has been contacted for an updated figure.
The total number of XL bullies, estimated by animal groups, has ranged between
