Companion Club changes

We have made the difficult decision to remove third-party public liability insurance from Companion Club, from 1 July 2026.  

When the UK government banned XL Bully type dogs in 2024, the legislation required owners to have third-party public liability insurance in order for dogs to be exempted.  

With no other insurance product of this type available in the UK, we stepped in and continued to extend our Companion Club insurance benefit to cover exempted dogs. If we hadn’t, dog owners would have had nowhere to turn. This decision helped tens of thousands of innocent dogs meet government requirements, saving them from being seized from their owners and put to sleep.

But as we communicated to the government at the time, it was never a long-term solution and continuing to shoulder the financial burden of this legislation is simply not sustainable.

Extending our insurance to cover XL Bully type dogs came at a cost. Companion Club subscriptions doubled as owners, who had no other choice to keep their dog safe, joined the scheme. But as companions increased, so did insurance claims, leading to a significant increase in our costs. 

As a charity, it is no longer sustainable to offer this benefit.  

Therefore, we have had to make the very difficult decision to remove third-party public liability insurance from Companion Club from 1 July 2026.  

We are incredibly disappointed to come to this decision, and it is not one we have taken lightly.

But this decision is not just about money.  

We are not an insurance provider, and the consequences of the ban on XL Bully type dogs has changed Companion Club and how it was originally designed to support dogs and their owners.

We do not agree with the ban on XL Bully type dogs, or breed specific legislation, and we will not turn our backs on dogs of this type. We are here to advocate for dogs, and to ensure they will be safe and protected in the future. Every dog deserves a happy life, and dogs affected by this legislation are no different.

We have engaged with the UK and devolved governments relentlessly to ensure there is an alternative solution that helps dogs meet the requirements of this legislation. They have reassured us that any solution they propose will be in place before 30 June 2026, and owners of exempted dogs will be contacted by the relevant government to let them know next steps.  

What does this mean for companions?

• Any companions who are due to renew up to and including 30 June 2026 will be able to renew as normal and will receive all benefits (including third-party public liability insurance) for a further 12 months from their renewal date.  
• Any companions who are due to renew from 1 July 2026 can renew as normal, but the third-party public liability insurance benefit will not be included.  

For now, Companions do not need to do anything. They will receive their renewal notice as usual, which will detail their subscription and the benefits included.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

If you own an exempted dog or have a question about prohibited dogs, please contact the relevant government agency for your nation. Or, if you live in Northern Ireland please contact your local council. 

• Defra (England & Wales)
• DAERA (Northern Ireland)
• Scottish Government

Please be aware that our in-person and customer support teams have no further information other than what is available on our website.