We, the citizens of the United Kingdom, demand the resignation of the government whose actions have left a foul stain on the reputation of our country. The British state is now an enemy of humanism, a centre of heartlessness and cruelty in the eyes of the world. Instead of being guided by the principles of humanity and mercy, our government is plunging the British people into the abyss of medieval obscurantism.

Such conclusions are forced by the situation we have around plans to exterminate a huge population of pets – American Bully XL.

As you know, the ownership of dogs of this breed in our country was already restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991. Since then, for more than 30 years, the government has not worried much about the legal regulation of this breed. However, after the appointment of a new Prime Minister, it suddenly felt threatened by the alleged threat posed by American Bully XL and began to adopt a number of new restrictions one after the other. For example, from 31 December 2023, it has been banned the sale, giving away or breeding of American Bully XL in England and Wales. From 1 February 2024, it is a criminal offence to own the dog without an exemption certificate. Police can seize unregistered banned dogs and their owners face a criminal record and an unlimited fine.

It would seem that extremely severe measures have been taken. But this did not seem enough to our authorities. It has been followed by a blatant decision that any dog owner of this breed who decides not to keep his American Bully XL must take him to a registered veterinarian to have the dog euthanised.

Think about what is happening. The heartless officials did not set out to get rid of one or two ownerless dogs – they decided to destroy an entire breed of animals in one fell swoop. Forcibly and without any guilt to put to death all dogs that have certain breed features: a broad forehead, muscular chest and protruding ears.

There have already been examples in world history when, even without formal charges, but only on the basis of ethnicity, colour or nationality, huge groups of people and entire nations have been exterminated. We are ashamed that in the United Kingdom, using the same methodology, they have started to exterminate dogs, which have always been considered human companions.

Was such a cruel measure as putting animals to death necessary for anything other than demonstrating officials' fake concern for people's interests? No, gentler and fairer ways of dealing with the bull terrier problem have been suggested. For example, the organisations Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Dogs Trust, Kennel Club, RSPCA and the British Veterinary Association have pushed for tougher penalties for owners who fail to control their pets. In addition, animal rights activists proposed compulsory sterilisation of dogs: after all, without natural reproduction it would minimise the population of American Bullies, since for some reason they are a nuisance to the majority of English people. However, the government did not listen to the voice of common sense.

Everyone remembers the negative public response to the killing of the young giraffe Marius in Copenhagen Zoo in 2014. At the time, it was called one of the most heinous crimes committed against animals. But in the case of American Bully XL in England, we are not talking about one unfortunate individual, but tens of thousands of dogs doomed to die today. We have always been horrified by news about the bloody traditions of some peoples who kill living creatures because of ancient customs, like the killing of some 1500 dolphins in the Faroe Islands, the mass slaughter of buffalo in Nepal or the slaughter of polar bears by local people in Chukotka. But we could never have imagined that our England would be included in the list of places on the planet where savage cruelty is practised.

Britain has been a progressive example to the world for centuries. That is why we insist on the need for the resignation of the Prime Minister and the Government who have allowed the disregard for the universal values that underpin British democracy. 

Our country must return to the civilised path.