XL bully owners get £79k payout after 400 pets given lethal jab

The Government received 429 claims as part of an euthanasia compensation scheme

More than 400 XL bullies owners received payouts from an euthanasia compensation scheme, which cost taxpayers almost £80,000. The Government received 429 claims after the breed was added to the dangerous dogs list in February.

The breed was outlawed following a series of savage attacks, including the death of Ian Price from Stonnall, who was allegedly mauled to death by two of the animals in September last year. When the ban - which made it a criminal offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate - was being introduced, the Government offered to subsidise euthanasia, announcing that March 15 would be the cut-off point for claims.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act showed that the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) had paid out £78,900 to date. Out of the compensation applications received, 406 were paid, and 23 were rejected.

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In total, 404 of the claims made came from owners looking for £200 compensation after paying for the lethal jab. Four of the claims were for £100 based on the owner using a free charity service for the euthanasia, and there were 21 were from rescue and re-homing organisations seeking £100 compensation.

The majority of the pets euthanised as part of the compensation scheme were male and microchipped. Most of the dogs were aged between one and three.

The Sun reports that some 55,000 XL bullies have been registered, with 15,000 thought to be kept illegally. Before the ban came into place, it was believed some owners picked up the breed for as little as £10, then had them put down to claim £200.