To think we're about to see an influx of XL Bully attacks after a rehoming free for all?

[SeattleSpacePlane]

So I know the ban is about to come in. Plenty for it, many against it. Not trying to start a debate about that!

Yesterday someone on my FB shared a post from a woman who was offering to rehome an XL to save it before the ban came in. Someone commented with a group for rehoming XLs before it's too late and banned and I clicked on it for a look.

I was absolutely gobsmacked by the posts on the group. Hundreds of posts going back weeks of XLs needing new homes (I suppose expected) - but a VERY high and panicked volume of posts over the past few days, as the ban approaches.

Lots of pictures of dogs with !!URGENT!! rehoming requests. From people asking on behalf of their friend, because their HA just told them XLs are banned under their tenancy, for the XL they just found abandoned behind Tesco, because they bred an XL litter this year and a buyer has just dumped an 8 month old pup back with them. Lots of reasons. Incredibly sad for the dogs, none of this is of their making.

But it's the reaponses. Comments and comments from people offering to rehome an XL to save them. Highlights were 'willing to take one but must be good with children as I have a 5 year old'. 'I wish I could have both but I'm in a flat so one is my limit, please contact me'. 'I have an XL already who is brilliant with the kids, happy to add another poor baby to our pack'.

Dogs are currently being panic-rehomed all over the Country. People are offering their services to transport the XL from Devon to the family in Yorkshire who've agreed to take it. No home checks, no behavioural checks of the dogs, people aren't even meeting the dog they're agreeing to home. Lots and LOTS being shipped to Scotland in particular where there's no ban.

It's truly frightening the amount of people with young dc agreeing to blindly rehome an XL to save them. I wouldn't rehome a bloody Yorkie without meeting the dog first never mind an XL!

This is going to end in tragedy, surely?

AIBU to think the ban on privately rehoming them should have been immediate at point of announcement to prevent this madness? And also that, sadly, we're likely to be reading several tragic stories in the coming weeks about one of these panic-rehomed dogs turning?

Being PTS isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a dog.

I saw this too, so sad.

Why are they all being rehomed ? Why aren't people getting the exemption certificates?

So many of them are going to end up in dog fighting rings. The arseholes running them must be rubbing their hands in glee.

Because they left it too late or couldn't be bothered with the hassle, and now realise they're screwed.

I'm a huge dog lover but honestly, the best thing for most of these animals would be to humanely put them to sleep. They're already being put through too much stress with muzzles, leads-only, and being panic-shipped all over the country to new owners. Many of whom will I'm sure want to re-home again once the warm glow of altruism wears off and they realise they have a huge dog to feed and look after.

Yes, I dread to think how many will end up as bait dogs. Putting them to sleep would be a blessing.

If they really cared they would have sorted out the paperwork.

I expect lots of people are buying them to make money as the government compensate if yours gets pts

There is a reprieve for dogs handed into rescue after 31st Oct.
There is also an army of people on FB pages looking to rehome and deliver dogs all around the country , an awful lot of Scottish people looking to rehome .

Lots of owners are going to be tenants who will have been told they can't keep their dog under their tenancy agreement. It's a bit of shit storm. Bad knee jerk piece of legislation. Sad for the dogs but too many have been bred and passed around by disreputable owners

I have seen the same on local groups. The amount of XL's needing new homes that aren't chipped or neutered etc..... this has been known about since August (I think?) And suddenly its a massive deal that they haven't registered for an exemption and got the dog chipped or neutered.

The amount of posts I have seen asking for cheap or free neutering for XL's locally as well is astounding. Terrible owners.

I'm reading more and more XLs being taken on by people claiming the PTS fee, it's turned into a total money spinner for some.

There's a definite theme to many of the posts I've seen, age wise. Very few 2 year +. Vast majority under 2 years with peaks in the 8-15 month range.

I agree for many of these it would be kinder to PTS. If you look only at the dogs perspective, none of the new homes are being checked so they could well end up in really, really unsuitable homes.

For the first time ever, I saw someone walking one along my road this morning.

It crossed my mind that it may have recently been rehomed because of the ban. I'd say that 90% of the dogs round my way are cockapoos, spaniels or whippets, so it was very out of place.

It may have been having its last muzzle-free walk.

Oh super, send them all to Scotland where all the responsible dog owners live.

"It's a bit of shit storm. Bad knee jerk piece of legislation"

Agree. The situation OP describes is a classic case of unintended consequences from poorly thought through legislation.

This is really infuriating. If folk are big enough to buy any power machine breed then they are big enough to be a responsible owner, register and muzzle them. I say this as an American bulldog owner who's dog will fall into this category if Scotland follow suit.

Because these owners can't be arsed, these dogs will end up in pounds and euthanized after a week!! There is no need for the hysteria and dumping of the dogs. We are seeing lots of dogs dumped at the border services, our rescues simply don't have the capacity for them. 😭 It's heartbreaking to think a simple muzzle is the cause of so many deaths to come.

I think there will be a lot of abandoned and dumped dogs. Dogs running loose and needing to be caught by the authorities.

I don't envy the vets having to PTS healthy dogs but there are too many untrained, overly strong animals with the potential to be very dangerous.

I hope they restore dog licencing laws to prevent this happening again. And increase the penalties for those breaking the laws.

So these are owners who would rather give their "fur baby" away to complete strangers rather than keep on a lead and muzzle in public????

Doesn't speak well of their intelligence or love of their pets does it.

As for those offering to take them when they have children...........🙄

Yes this! Pets at home wouldn't allow people to sell them for less than the fee

It kind of gives the owners a bad name though if so many can't be arsed to register them

YANBU.

I wish I had a better suggestion than the government but following the last few months reporting, I certainly wouldn’t allow one around my children

But the PTS fee can only be paid directly to a vet to cover the costs, can’t it? So how does that work?

Not all vets are honest..

You're reading bullshit by people with very little knowledge then.

The cost to PTS a dog of this sort of size is often in excess of £200 (cost is typically height and weight related).

Additionally, many vets are now refusing to PTS and whilst of course you can kill a dog in other ways (and it may be legal if you do not cause unnecessary suffering by doing so), the only way to claim the compensation is to have it done by a vet who fills out the necessary forms.

So anyone thinking they can collect XL bullies and then cash in by killing them is an idiot who will end up with dogs they can't house, can't rehome, can't afford to have PTS and presumably they'll dump them.

Or indeed, its not something thats actually happening at all.

It's so sad, the upset to those poor dogs lives just being shipped out and dumped anywhere without any proper consideration. I agree OP, this much upheaval to those dogs will cause some more attacks.

If these people loved their dogs enough, as soon as the new rules were announced they would be responsible for owners, apply for the proper paperwork and prepare their dog for the new rules. It makes me sad that all they've done is take to social media in droves about how unfair it all is and then binned the dog off somewhere because they haven't made the proper arrangements.