Government has announced a number of new regulations which will prohibit the breeding of mixed bully breed dogs that are not certified with a pedigree.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Animal Rights Minister Anton Refalo announced the new regulations which are aimed at reducing the population of such dogs, many of which end up abandoned or confined in animal shelters without being adopted. Owning a non-pedigree bully breed dog will now be illegal.

The 2024 Regulations on the Prohibition of Breeding and Keeping Non-Pedigree Bully Type Dogs will come into force and be enforced within four months, as part of the Animal Welfare Act (Cap. 439).

Refalo emphasized that the regulations will further strengthen the area of animal rights in the country, where it is expected to reduce abandonment of mixed bully breed dogs that eventually end up in shelters.

He said that the regulations announced complement a number of other measures and initiatives that were launched in recent weeks and months, such as the regulation concerning pet sitters, boarders and groomers.

Refalo also mentioned the dog neutering campaign launched last May, a pilot project which benefited owners of farm dogs and mixed bully breed dogs.

Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said spoke about the survey that revealed the problem of mixed bully breed dogs in the country.

"At the Animal Welfare only, there are more than 100 mixed bully breed dogs that unfortunately ended up abandoned and confined in cages for life. We want to reduce this abuse so that we can truly safeguard animal rights, including the right to freedom and to be loved by a family," Bugeja Said said.

She added that the new regulations will also reduce abuses that occur in breeding, as only the breeding of bully breed dogs with pedigree certification will be allowed.

Bugeja Said said that those who have bully breed dogs without pedigree and that are microchipped can be kept, and can have them neutered for free, under a scheme launched by the same Ministry a few months ago.

Director of the Directorate for the Proper Treatment of Animals Joseph John Vella said that these regulations were drafted after extensive consultation with various stakeholders.

The same regulations also include the drafting of criteria that regulate kennel clubs for bully breed dogs, from which the pedigree certification of the dogs will be issued.