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Confirm an XL Bully dog has been neutered

Owners must confirm their XL Bully dog has been neutered for their dog’s Certificate of Exemption to be valid.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published:
14 November 2023
Last updated:
1 July 2025
Show all updates

  1. The deadlines for neutering and submitting confirmation of neutering for XL Bully dogs has passed. We’ve updated the guidance to reflect this and removed the VCN01 form.

  2. Guidance updated to reflect that the deadline for neutering and submitting confirmation of dogs aged 7 months and older on 31 January 2024 has passed. The next deadline (for dogs less than 7 months old on 31 January 2024) is 30 June 2025. We have also improved the structure and format of the guidance for vets completing the confirmation of neutering form. The guidance was previously hosted on the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Vet Gateway, which is now closed. The content of the guidance for vets has not changed.

  3. Updated to say Defra will get in touch with all owners who submitted evidence of neutering, now that the deadline has passed for dogs aged 12 months or older on 31 January.

  4. Added information on what XL Bully owners should do if they miss the deadline for neutering their dog or for sending their confirmation of neutering form to Defra.

  5. Updated the deadline for Defra to receive the neutering form for dogs aged 12 months and older on 31 January 2024.

  6. Clarified the deadlines for providing evidence that your dog has been neutered. Also updated the contact details you should use to return the completed form. Updated the Veterinary confirmation of neutering form (VCN01) with a new, simplified version.

  7. Updated the instructions on the VCN01 form to make it clear when you need to provide proof of neutering, and that the dog owner is responsible for submitting the form.

  8. Updated the guidance to clarify that it is the owner's responsibility to return the confirmation of neutering form, and to clarify the deadlines the form needs to be submitted by.

  9. First published.

This publication was withdrawn on

We have withdrawn this publication because the deadlines for neutering and submitting confirmation of neutering forms for XL Bully dogs has passed.

You can read more about the rules you must follow if you own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Guidance for vets completing the veterinary confirmation of neutering form

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Details

If you own an XL Bully dog, you must provide Defra with evidence that your dog has been neutered for your Certificate of Exemption to remain valid. If you do not provide evidence that your dog has been neutered by the relevant deadline, your dog will no longer be exempt.

The deadlines for neutering and submitting confirmation of neutering for XL Bully dogs has passed and this guidance has been withdrawn.

If your dog was not neutered before the deadline and you have not submitted evidence of neutering, you should: 

Neutering your dog is recommended even if you have missed the deadline.

Your XL Bully dog must be permanently neutered. Male dogs must be neutered through castration, and female dogs must be spayed.  An RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon must perform the neutering procedure.

Deadlines for providing evidence that your dog has been neutered

You must provide Defra with evidence that your XL Bully dog has been neutered on or before the relevant deadline. 

The owner and vet must fill in the veterinary confirmation of neutering form (VCN01) once the neutering procedure has been carried out. The owner should return the form to Defra.

The deadlines for neutering and the receipt of the form by Defra depend on the dog’s age on 31 January 2024.

Dog’s age on 31 January 2024 Deadline for receipt of form
12 months or older 26 July 2024 (but the dog must have been neutered by 30 June 2024)
At least 7 months old, but less than 12 months old 31 December 2024
Less than 7 months old 30 June 2025

Contact

For more information, contact XLBneuteringcerts@defra.gov.uk

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