Statement of Intent and Execution- American Bully

Thursday, 16 April 2026

It is with delight that the Federal Council of KUSA and the KUSA Office are able to inform the members of the American Bully community that, after a period of discussions and negotiations with representatives of the American Bully collective of owners and breeders, KUSA shall, as from 1 May 2026, accept voluntary applications from owners and breeders of American Bullies (Pocket) and American Bullies (Standard) to register their dogs on KUSA’s Breed Appendix Register.

The above milestone has been reached after persistent appeals from members of the American Bully community to register, or dual register, their dogs with KUSA, even though American Bullies are not (yet) a recognised breed under the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). To reach this point, KUSA obviously had to engage extensively with the FCI and FCI National Canine Organisations (NCOs), which had succeeded in accommodating American Bullies on their Appendix Registers by availing themselves of certain FCI flexibilities afforded to member countries.

A further breakthrough was achieved when, after persuasive representations to the Department of Agriculture (DoA) the American Bully was accepted by the DoA as a canine breed under the Animal Improvement Act No. 62 of 1998 (AIA), such recognition having thus far been confined to landraces and FCI-recognised breeds. In the interest of transparency, we included representatives of the American Bully fraternity in the discussions with the Registrar: Animal Improvement, who acquitted themselves with distinction in putting the case of recognition of the American Bully to the Registrar in solidarity with KUSA. As is by now common knowledge, importation of any canine breed, or genetic material of any breed, unsterilised and for breeding purposes, is only possible under the AIA if the breed is DoA-recognised.

A prerequisite for registration of a purebred dog of a recognised breed on the KUSA Breed Appendix Register is the acquisition of KUSA membership by the dog’s registered owner. KUSA’s NEW MEMBER APPLICATION FORM can be accessed at>> https://rb.gy/akieem

A bespoke Registration Application Form, headed APPLICATION TO REGISTER A SINGLE DOG – BREED APPENDIX REGISTER ONLY – AMERICAN BULLY has been designed by the KUSA Office for the take-on and registration of single American Bullies, which can be accessed at>> https://urlkub.co/yqeGYn

A document of paramount importance, entitled REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS – AMERICAN BULLY (POCKET) & AMERICAN BULLY (STANDARD) – has been developed by the KUSA Office, containing all the information relevant to the take-on of American Bullies, the registration of progeny of take-on dogs, the registration of breeders’ Affixes and the eligibility to enter American Bullies at KUSA-licensed dog shows. The document may be requested in writing from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Finally, KUSA has adapted its standard Affix Application Form to create a version for breeds not recognised by the FCI, under the heading, APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF A KUSA AFFIX (KENNEL NAME) FOR BREEDS NOT RECOGNISED BY THE FCI. This document must be used by any American Bully breeder intent on registering a new or existing Affix and can be accessed at>> https://urlkub.co/rUD3RB

Please note that all KUSA-services for which applicants require the return of documents to them, are subject to payment of a Courier Delivery Fee and such applications must be accompanied by a Courier Delivery Form – Courier Delivery Form (RSA) Jan 2024.pdf – and Proof of Payment of the required Courier Delivery Fee. For all KUSA Fees, please consult the KUSA’s Subscription & Fees document published on the KUSA website, also accessible at Schedule 07 - Subscription and Fees Price List.pdf

KUSA is pleased to have reached this point where it is able to offer a legal home to American Bullies in South Africa. Country-recognition is an important step forward along the complex path of eventually achieving international recognition for a breed under the FCI. This requires collaboration with like-minded NCOs around the world who stand in solidarity with the aficionados of a breed aspiring to be acknowledged and recognised internationally.

The Federal Council and Management of KUSA welcome the members of the American Bully community to the KUSA fold and look forward to working with those committed to this breed on the inculcation of sound, ethical and verifiable breeding practices, not only meeting the objectives of the AIA but, when the time comes, also standing up to rigorous international scrutiny.

Yours sincerely,

Gérard Robinson
KUSA Secretary