XL Bully dog owner charged by police after inheriting dead mum's pet

XL bullies were required to be registered by January, 31 this year.

However, Allen - from Leicester - contacted police on February 4 following the death of her mum.

Prosecutor Ryan Houghton told Leicester Magistrates' Court: "She was advised the exemption deadline had passed. Officers attended at her home address on Thursday, February 22 and the police seized the dog.

"The law is very clear - at this point, the ownership of an XL bully dog is an offence unless you have an exemption certificate. I don't think it's possible for anyone not to know after all the publicity.

"That's offset in this case by the fact the defendant was making efforts to get her dog registered."

A specialist police officer said Pippa was unable to follow commands but was "good-natured" and not aggressive.

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Houghton asked the court to make a Contingent Destruction Order - meaning Allen can have the dog back, but is required to ensure certain conditions are met, including neutering and obtaining an exemption certificate.

Ziyad Lunat, defending told the magistrates that Allen's mother owned Pippa but had become sick and passed away at the end of last year.

He said: "Her mum passed away and the dog, the house and her younger siblings all became her responsibility. She was previously the carer for her mum and has now taken over the care of her siblings.

"Miss Allen had worked in the care sector before and planned to in the future. She will now have a criminal conviction against her name, which will make that difficult."

Allen, who had no previous convictions, was given a six-month conditional discharge and the magistrates decided not to order court costs against her due to her obligations.

She is required to pay a £26 victim surcharge and the magistrates made the Contingent Destruction Order.

The chair of the bench, Susan Halcroft, told Allen: "We sympathise with you. You have had a difficult time - you lost your mum and it's taken a lot of courage from you to bring up your siblings.

"When somebody dies it's difficult with the paperwork to change things over. That's how it works and unfortunately, you've been caught up with that."