Update following the Judicial Review Appeal Hearing - Where we are now and why we have re-opened this fundraiser:
During the appeal hearing, on Wednesday 19th November 2025, the Judges focused on one central ground of appeal: whether the court should grant a remedy to reflect the Government’s failure to properly consider equality issues before introducing the statutory instruments that brought the XL Bully ban into effect.
As a reminder, the ban became law on 1 February 2024, yet the Government did not complete its Equality Impact considerations until 30 May 2024. This means the law was implemented and enforced for several months without the legally required equality assessment being carried out at the time the decisions were made.
During that period, more than 400 dogs were put to sleep, and a number of owners were prosecuted under legislation that was not lawfully introduced.
The Judges will now take time to review the arguments and consider whether a remedy should be granted. As is normal, no decision was given on the day, and we do not yet know when the judgment will be handed down. We will update you as soon as the court publishes its decision.
What the Judges Must Now Decide
This is effectively an all-or-nothing situation.
The Judges must decide whether:
- All of the statutory instruments must be quashed due to the Government’s failure to follow correct procedure.
- If this happens, the ban would fall.
- The Government would be able to reintroduce legislation, but would need to restart the process and complete it lawfully.
OR
- The statutory instruments remain in place, meaning the ban stays as it is and there are no repercussions for the Government’s procedural failures.
What is clear is that, had we not brought this Judicial Review, this failure would not have come to light. Laws that criminalise people and lead to the destruction of dogs must be introduced through proper and lawful process. This case is the first of its kind and will almost certainly be used in future case law. To everyone who donated: you played a part in making this challenge possible.
A Note on Costs
We also raised this during our Instagram Live on 20th November which is available to watch back on Don't Ban Me, Licence Me (Instagram).
We were not successful in obtaining a costs cap for the appeal. This means that any legal fees following the Judicial Review may be subject to costs.
Our legal team continues to act pro bono, meaning they are not charging for their work. However, the Government’s legal costs will have been mounting, and if we lose the appeal, we will be liable for those costs.
The decision to proceed with the appeal was a very difficult one. We had many conversations with our legal team about whether we should withdraw and bring the case to an end. Ultimately, we decided that while there remains a real chance of success (and given it is now a matter of fact that the Government acted unlawfully) it was right to continue.
As such, these potential costs fall to us. While we could wait for the outcome, we have been advised to reopen the GoFundMe now, so that if you are able to contribute anything towards potential costs, it will help significantly.
To clarify:
- The vast majority of the remaining funds are already ring-fenced under the original cost-capping order and cannot be used for appeal costs.
- Any donations made now will go directly towards covering potential appeal costs.
If we are fortunate enough to win and incur no costs, the remaining fund will be donated to suitable dog-related causes — exactly as we have always said.
A reminder that no one from DBMLM or our legal team has taken any payment for this campaign.
We truly appreciate anything you are able to donate, and we will update you as soon as we have news. We do not expect a decision for at least a few weeks.
The DBMLM Team
Original Legal Challenge:
We are the Licenceme Group and we are raising funds for all UK xl bully owners to legally fight against putting our beautiful pet dogs on the ‘banned breeds’ list.
This is going to be a huge challenge. But have the support of a stellar legal team including 2 barristers and support from a solicitor from Tuckers Solicitors.
Our dogs are bred to be loving companions, the XL Bully has been wrongfully blamed for many recent attacks by the media and government.
Many other dogs will be targeted under this new proposed ban, everything from mastiffs to staffies to mixed breeds and crosses. Innocent dogs who have shown no aggression and pose no danger to anyone are under threat, all because of their appearance.
Since the dangerous dogs Act come into place in 1991, dog attacks have risen, not reduced, and since 1999 and 2019 dog attacks have risen by 154%.
There are many factors to blame here, but we cannot blame and cull an entire ‘type’
We as bully owners of the UK demand change, demand fair and effective laws that keep people and dogs safe, demand that no dog be damned because of how they look!
We are a non-for-profit organisation set up for all us Bully owners to fight this ban. Every single penny raised from this fund will be used for our legal challenge. For all updates please see our website Licenceme.org.uk for complete transparency.
There is a process we have to follow and this will be costly so we need to stay strong and keep fighting.
