Owners of XL bully dogs have just hours left to apply for certificates of exemption if they wish to keep their pets before a ban on the breed comes into force.

From February 1, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL bully in England and Wales without a certificate.

Applications must be submitted by midday on Wednesday.

It follows restrictions which came into force at the end of last year which mean the dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.

Breeding, selling or abandoning the dogs also became illegal as of December 31.

To qualify for an exemption certificate, owners must prove their XL bully has been neutered by June 30.

If they have a pup which is less than a year old on Wednesday, they must be neutered by the end of 2024, and evidence that they have done so must be provided.

As well as neutering their animals, XL bully owners seeking an exemption must also pay an application fee, hold third party public liability insurance for their pets, and ensure the dogs are microchipped.

The Government move to ban the breed followed a series of attacks involving XL bullies, with one man dying after being savaged by one of the dogs last year.

Owners of XL bully dogs in Scotland will also be subject at a later date to the safeguards after the Scottish Government replicated legislation in place south of the border.

The RSPCA said banning the breed “is not the answer” and warned of a “huge risk” that rescue centres and vets will be unable to cope with a likely surge in demand due to the restrictions.

Dr Samantha Gaines, dog welfare expert at the charity, said: “We are deeply saddened by tragic incidents involving dogs and we agree that there is an urgent need to provide protection for the public – but banning XL bullies is not the answer.

“Instead, we want to see the UK Government commit to the enforcement and improvement of current breeding and dog control regulations, and to promoting responsible dog ownership and training. Improving the way dogs are bred, controlled and treated throughout their lives is key to preventing dog bite incidents.

“As a member of the Dog Control Coalition, the RSPCA remains vehemently opposed to breed-specific legislation; an outdated approach which fails to protect public safety and seriously compromises dog welfare, and we will continue to campaign against legislation that unfairly punishes dogs based on their appearance.

“The ban on XL bullies not only remains devastating for so many dogs, but is also taking a heavy toll on owners, on rescue centre staff who have grown close to dogs in their care, and to veterinary teams who face the prospect of being asked to put to sleep healthy dogs whose behaviour poses no risk.

“There is a huge risk that rescue centres and the veterinary profession will not be able to cope with the demands put on them by this law.”

The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes warned of increased abandonment rates and said the new rules may lead to a “postcode lottery” for vets being able to help owners meet the terms.

The dogs were added to the Dangerous Dogs Act on October 31 last year, giving owners two months to prepare for the first stage of restrictions.

People with dangerously out of control dogs can be jailed for 14 years and banned from owning animals, and their pets can be put down.