Acomb XL bully owner fined for not controlling his dogs

Council officers repeatedly warned Kyle Muir, 30, to make sure his dogs, including an illegal XL bully dog, did not escape from his property.

Today he is facing a bill of £2,762 including compensation to another dog owner whose pet was savaged by Muir’s dogs, and City of York Council has imposed a city-wide public space protection order compelling all dog owners to keep their pets under control at all times.

Cllr Michael Pavlovic, executive member of City of York Council, said: “Failing to train and control dogs is not acceptable and can be dangerous.

“We will continue to work closely with North Yorkshire Police and partners to deal with dangerous dogs and the anti‑social behaviour they can create.

“Please report your concerns early, so we can take robust enforcement action to protect our communities.”

Muir, of Thoresby Road, Acomb, pleaded guilty to two charges of having a dog dangerously out of control in his home street in September 2025.  One dog was an XL bully dog called Fendi and one was a brindle bull type dog called Donnie.

He also admitted having an XL bully dog illegally and failure to comply with an official notice to keep his dogs under control and on his property between June 2025 and January this year.

He was ordered to pay a total of £2,762, including £500 compensation to the owner of the dog that was attacked.

A council spokesman said the prosecution followed numerous complaints from residents concerned about his three dogs repeatedly escaping from his property.

From November 2024, the dogs entered neighbours’ gardens, caused damage and behaved in an uncontrolled and, at times, aggressive manner.

The council warned Mr Muir and then gave him a formal notice to stop allowing this behaviour. On 30 September 2025, two of Mr Muir’s dogs forced entry into a neighbouring garden and attacked another dog. Its injuries required treatment by a vet.

Between September 2025 and January 2026, residents reported dogs repeatedly escaping and straying, going into neighbouring gardens, causing a nuisance and barking persistently. They told the council the dogs’ behaviour and the lack of control by their behaviour made them feel unsafe and distressed.

In January 2026, Mr Muir asked the council to take his XL bully dog off him, as he could no longer control it.

Mr Muir failed to attend an interview.

In court he said he was sorry and he was willing to pay the injured dog’s vet.