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?

@TeaAndTattoos

there is no legal definition of a breed, so they have to make a set of guidelines that a dog meets to be included in the ban.

size is just one factor.

The trend for ear and tail clipping with XLs tells me all I need to know about that dog’s owner. Awful, rotten excuses for human beings.

The idea of people taking unknown, possibly untrained, dogs of this size and breeding into homes with children is terrifying. I have a massive dog, not an XL or anything similar, but he and I weigh about the same…having a dog that large and strong requires impeccable training because you aren’t ever going to be able to physically control them and I can’t imagine having one around my children with no knowledge whatsoever of their background.

This is terrible stress for these poor animals and I really fear there will be more deaths as a result of putting powerful dogs and unfamiliar handlers together. I've a Springer spaniel who I wouldn't trust if was put in an unfamiliar setting.

This. I love dogs but had no experience of giant breeds until my mum ridiculously and ill-advisedly adopted a Rotweiler puppy from a security line (i.e. prone to biting) in her 70s. The idea was that her carer would look after him, but it became clear that her carer thought that he could just be exercised in the garden. As he grew he destroyed their house and became totally unmanageable. It wasn't his fault at all - he had zero training, zero consistency, he just got shouted at or ignored.

The big eye-opener for me was finding out that no one would walk him because they couldn't control him. I very naively thought I'd be able to walk him because I'm confident around big horses, but horses are prey animals with very big long necks and are actually much easier to stop. I realised three houses along that there was no way I'd be able to stop him if he decided to run in front of a car, or towards another dog or a person. Turned him round, took him home, read my mum the riot act and he was rehomed via a reputable national charity to a family with no children and lots of experience with giant breeds.

I still love giant dogs - they are just gorgeous - but I would not rehome one unless I was taking it from a pup and devoting the majority of my time to exercising and training it. I agree that this is a disastrous situation that is in no way the dogs' fault.

I'm in Scotland and it's terrifying how many of these savage dogs have appeared locally in just a couple of weeks. No sign of a ban here of course.

It costs more than £200 for a dog that weight to be euthanased and cremated.

It all depends on their measurements so they could be xls or American bulldogs but it's just the measurements and criteria that matter.

It's not a loophole. The measurements and criteria determine if a dog is classed as an xl or not.

I think the sort of people who are most likely to have out of control untrained dogs are the sort who dont watch the news or keep up with developments.

It also blows my brain that people book their genetically modified dogs in at the vets to have eye surgery or nasal surgery due to breathing and sore issues because that's how they've been bred.

Not sure about this though. I just adopted a 4 y.o. pug from a reputable rescue - there is a 30% chance she will need an operation to help with her breathing, although no sign she needs it yet. I would never buy or support breeding of pugs because the more I find out the more concerning it is. But this little animal is a lovely little dog, has a great quality of life, and if she needs the op, she will get it because she deserves to feel as good as she could.

Some Social housing is kicking them out.

Even if there is only one attack, I am sure we are going to be made aware of it. That is one too many.

I still hold the view that if your dog causes harm to someone that requires medical treatment, the law should treat it the same as if you inflicted the injury yourself. Animals are sentient beings and there is the concept in law of joint enterprise.

Yes, these morons taking in dogs they don’t know (that are clearly going to have problems or else they wouldn’t be offered to strangers on the internet ffs) are likely going to end up with their children being attacked or bitten. And, of course, they will say ‘it was always such a friendly dog.’

It’s all very predictable.

I mean…people are desperate for social housing. People who will not be anti-social, will obey the rules and will be good neighbours. I have little sympathy for people buying aggressive anti-social breeds and keeping them in what are typically small closed together homes when decent humans who aren’t thugs could live there

I completely agree with you. It's fucking anger inducing that in the next few weeks there's most likely going to be some poor kids ripped to shreds because their parents are fucking numptys taking in a fucking killing machine 🤬

Im a bit confused how people are asking for the dogs to be rehomed in time for the ban?

So how would the new owners have the dog then if they are banned?

The ban isn’t in force in Scotland. So rather than getting their shit into order with the 3.5 months notice they got, the rather dim conglomerate of the XL Bullies owners today are assuming their dog will automatically implode at 00.01 if they are on English soil, and are shipping them off to equally dim good Samaritans over the border.

On the Carlisle side, there’s a real problem with anti-social behaviour across the border in some areas. So kind people are throwing dangerous dogs into the mix

The ban is far too weak there should be no exemptions and the height weight is far too low. They all need to be pts, and the ban should extend to any dog with strong jaws.

How are they doing this when the vet has to support the claim, that is surely not going to be widespread?

Surely the ‘vets killing healthy Bullies to pocket a share of £200’ is a silly urban myth?

You think there only 2 wars going on 🤣
Whats ur point? Is ur opinion the only valid one and other people dnt matter? 😂

I met one, I found it to be enormous and scary, poorly trained and I wouldn’t trust it with a mouse let alone a child.

The 14 people killed by them met one. Or do they not matter in ur world?