XL Bully owners in Jersey need a licence to travel in and out of the island with their dogs.

The law changes on Saturday, 24 February, and requires people with a dog of that type to apply for an export licence from the Animal Health and Welfare team through rva@gov.je.

Owners will also need written confirmation that their entry with an XL Bully dog will be accepted by the countries they are travelling to or through.

The update in legislation comes after the UK made it illegal to sell, abandon, give away or breed XL Bullies in England and Wales.

UK Ministers also made it illegal to have a dog of that type in public without a lead or muzzle.

Owners who think their dog could be confused with an XL Bully should also contact the Animal Health and Welfare team on the email above.

Islanders can check if their dog fits the characteristics of an XL Bully on the government website.

The types of dogs banned in Jersey are:

• Dogo Argentino;
• Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff);
• Japanese Tosa (or Tosa);
• Pit Bull Terrier.

This includes any other type of dog showing characteristics to those bred for fighting:

• American Staffordshire Terriers (Am Staffs or AST's);
• American Bulldogs, including XL Bulldogs or Bullies;
• Presa Canario;
• Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier (not to be confused with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier);
• Old Fashioned Staffords (not to be confused with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier);
• Traditional Staffords (not to be confused with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier);
• Wolf Hybrids;
• Certain Shepherd dogs (Caucasian, Central Asian, Kangal and Yugoslavian Shepherds);
• Certain Mastiffs (Neapolitan, Spanish and Boerboel Mastiffs);
• Cane Corso.