Information for dog owners

XL Bully Information

As of February 1, 2024, it is a criminal offense to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without a valid Certificate of Exemption:

• Breeding, selling, and giving away: It is illegal to breed, sell, exchange, gift, or abandon an XL Bully dog
• Muzzling and leashes: XL Bully dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public places
• Secure conditions: XL Bully dogs must be kept in secure conditions to prevent them from escaping

If you do not have a Certificate of Exemption

It’s against the law to keep an XL Bully dog without a Certificate of Exemption. If you think you have an XL Bully dog and you have not applied for a Certificate of Exemption, you should contact your local police force.

Please go to the GOV.UK website for more information about XL Bully Dogs.

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Public Space Protection Order (PSPO)

A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) relating to dog control in public was issued in April 2016, extended in 2022 and extended again in 2025. This order imposes certain legal responsibilities on dog owners in Three Rivers District.

If you own and walk a dog in the district, you must:

• pick up your dog’s faeces
• put your dog on a lead if directed to by an authorised officer of the Authority
• keep your dog on a lead at all times in the area surrounding the Café in the Park in the Aquadrome
• do not allow your dog to enter children's play areas, courts, outdoor gyms, skate areas and fenced-off picnic areas
• keep your dog from entering land used for grazing livestock
• one person is only allowed to be in charge of a maximum of four dogs at a time

The order does not apply to individuals with disabilities who use a dog for assistance. Please refer to section 7 of the order below for a list of exemptions.

You can read the full PSPO below:

Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) Dogs 2025 (PDF)

It is an offence to breach a PSPO, and you can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 or a fine of up to £1,000 if prosecuted.