Are pit bulls illegal in the UK?

Keeping a dog as a pet is considered normal around the world.

But did you know that owning some animal breeds is illegal in the UK? Here we look at pit bulls and the reasons why they are banned.

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Are pit bulls illegal in the UK?

Owning a pit bull is illegal in the UK.

Originally from England, the pit bull was bred as a fighting dog and competed in sports such as bear baiting and dog fighting.

When were pit bulls banned in the UK?

It is illegal to breed, sell, abandon or give away certain types of dogs in the UK.

The 1980s saw increasing reports of unprovoked pit bull attacks on humans – between 1981 and 1991 there were 15 fatal dog attacks in England and Wales.

In 1991 the British government decided to take action and banned the breed along with three others.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is an Act of Parliament which focuses on banning or restricting certain types of dogs and codifying the offense of allowing a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control.

The three other banned breeds were the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brasileiro.

The law has been criticized by groups such as the RSPCA, which suggested it was unfair to judge a dog on its breed rather than its behavior.

Are pit bulls banned in other countries?

Rules in different countries vary when it comes to owning this dog breed.

Pit bulls are also banned in Denmark, Norway and Cyprus.

They are allowed with restrictions in countries like France, Spain and Germany.

Pit bull ownership is legal in several US states but illegal in many states and cities in Canada.

Are Pitbull crossbreeds illegal in the UK?

Crossbreeds may also be subject to the law depending on their size and characteristics.

The law prohibits pit bull types, but it does not specifically prohibit dogs that may have been crossed.