Police forces across England and Wales are facing mounting financial pressure as the XL bully ban drives kennelling costs to unprecedented levels.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council has revealed that veterinary and kennelling expenses could soar to £25m by April 2025 – a staggering 500% increase from 2018 figures.
“We are facing a number of challenges in kennel capacity, resourcing and ever-mounting costs, and as of today we have not received any additional funding to account for this,” said Chief Constable Mark Hobrough, the NPCC’s lead for dangerous dogs.
With kennels “reaching capacity” and costs of approximately £1,000 per dog monthly, the situation is becoming increasingly challenging for police resources. 📊
Between February and September 2024, authorities seized 4,586 suspected banned dogs, with 848 being euthanised at a cost of £340,000.
“We urgently need the government to support us in coping with the huge demand the ban has placed on our ever-stretched resources,” Hobrough added, highlighting the strain on police services.
Comments
Be kind, stay on topic and keep it legal. Comments are checked automatically before they go up, and any that aren’t may be removed.
No comments yet. Be the first to have your say.