Lucy Stoner and James Harvey from Woolhampton sentenced for XL Bully offence

TWO pet owners have been convicted of illegally possessing a ‘fighting’ dog, namely, an XL Bully.

Thirty-five-year-old Lucy Stoner and James Harvey, aged 37, appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 25.

The pair, who live in Hill Place, off Bath Road in Woolhampton, each pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing a fighting dog, namely an XL Bully named Nyla, in Woolhampton last March.

The charge was brought under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Each was fined £107 and ordered to pay £45 costs plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £43.

Magistrates issued a contingent destruction order, which means that the dog will not have to be destroyed provided the owners comply with conditions, including ensuring it is muzzled and on a leash in public and controlled by a person aged 16 years or over.

They are also required to obtain third party liability insurance and to have the dog neutered and microchipped.

Finally, Ms Stoner and Mr Harvey were required to apply for a valid exemption certificate within two months to comply with the law concerning XL Bully dogs.

It is now a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless you have a valid certificate of exemption.

However applications for the certificates have now closed.

New exemptions can only be authorised by a court order.

It is 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

The new regulations were introduced following an alarming number of attacks on people, some fatal.