OWNERS of XL Bullies in Scotland are being offered £200 to have their dogs put down.
The Scottish Government will give £100 to owners to cover the costs of euthanising their dog – plus an extra £100 compensation.
Those who wish to keep their dogs must pay £92.40 for an exemption certificate, have their dogs neutered and microchipped plus get third party insurance.
The insurance policy must cover the owner for death or bodily injury to any person caused by a dog.
The application scheme runs from Monday, April 1 to July 31, 2024, after which it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scotland's XL bully ban
Postal applications must be made by July 15 and online applications by midnight on July 31. Full details of the process and requirements are available on the Scottish Government website.
It comes after a spate of attacks on people by XL Bully dogs in recent years.
The dogs are now banned across the UK but some were taken from England to Scotland due to restrictions coming in later north of the Border.
XL Bully dogs must be muzzled and kept on a lead in public.
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “These new safeguards are being introduced to protect the public while giving XL Bully owners time to comply with the new rules.
“I would encourage XL Bully owners who wish to keep their dogs from August 1 to apply for an exemption certificate in good time.
“The Scottish Government continues to work with Police Scotland, local authorities, the SSPCA and others to ensure our communities are kept safe.”
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