Mr Justice John Jordan granted an injunction against the seizure or euthanasia of XL Bully dogs in a case brought by six animal welfare charities. The judge refused to order a second injunction on the regulatory ban preventing re-homing of the dogs, with a substantive hearing scheduled for February 27. The ban on XL Bully dogs was implemented in October, with a deadline for re-homing or exporting them by February 1.

The ban on owning XL Bully dogs without an exemption certificate comes into force this weekend, with potential criminal penalties for non-compliance. The applicants expressed concerns about public safety and the lack of a review procedure for misidentified dogs that may be euthanised. The judge granted the injunction, emphasizing the importance of keeping the dogs alive until the case is fully determined.

Both sides of the argument were acknowledged by the judge, who highlighted the potential consequences of a wrong decision leading to the death of a dog that should not have been euthanised. The injunction will allow the dogs to be cared for by responsible volunteers until the case is resolved, with the judge emphasizing the irreversible nature of euthanasia.