Owners of XL Bully dogs have two weeks to apply for an exemption if they want to keep their pet.

The deadline to be able to keep a dog of the breed is looming.

The new law which comes in on August 1, will make it an offence to own the breed without an exemption.

Penalties for breaching the new rules include a fine of up to £5000 or six months in jail.

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To own an XL Bully owners must have third party insurance, microchip their dogs and commit to their dogs being neutered, as well as pay a £92.40 fee.

Siobhian Brown , Victims and Community Safety Minister, said: “The deadline is now very close for XL Bully dog owners who have not yet applied for an exemption.

“Public safety has always been the priority and the reason these measures were introduced.

“I would strongly encourage owners to apply now so they can continue to legally own their dogs.

"From 1 August 2024, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate or not to have applied for one by that date.”

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Under the new law it will be an offence to have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle,

Also you cannot breed or breed from an XL Bully, sell, give away or rehome an XL Bully and abandon an XL Bully or let it stray.

Someone over 16 must be in charge of the dog on the lead in public.

Postal applications have now closed and online applications for an exemption certificate are now only being accepted.

More information can be found on the Scottish Government website.