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?

And I took her to be arguing with you and saying you were wrong.

Edit: there are multiple people who make that comment seriously, including in threads on Mumsnet. There was no reason to think she wasn’t one of them since she couldn’t be bothered to give any indication otherwise.

Ok but there’s no need to be grumpy just because you didn’t get it was sarcasm.

And I think there is. There’s no need to be grumpy because you don’t like my reaction.

@Boomboom22

Don't be ridiculous.

no exemptions? So a well looked after, well trained, pet should be killed because a different dog attacked someone.

youre arguing against yourself saying the height & weight are too low.

All dogs with a 'strong jaw' should be banned. So start with all labradors then???

I have a sighthound and she HATES being chased.
She will run with trusted canine friends ( similar weight) but they take turns being chaser and chasee .

Yet the amount of idiots who let loose their heavy Labradors or Husky types onto her because they think their beast can chase mine is ridiculous.
I say “ She hates being chased” and the more sensible owner does catch their dog-
Other sighthound owners say the same- our dogs aren’t chase toys for heavy large mutts.

More Idiots for sure are around with dogs since Covid era.

God bless these poor dogs . Put them to sleep as a blessed release x

I hope the woman who lives next door to my DD has to put her 2 dogs to sleep. I've no idea if they're XLs, im not familiar with the breed, but they're fucking horrible things. She lets them on the front drive to do their business - but the front fencing only goes to my waist and I'm a short arse! I left my DDs house last week and they went mental jumping up at the fence and barking. My DGS wouldn't stand a chance if they cleared that fence

Oh I am so glad!
So Sorry and happy new year!!

You’d be surprised how many people genuinely hold that opinion but I did totally miss the sarcasm! My bad.

The absolute outrage that all these animals are being to PTS in shelters- and it's directly related to shitty owners and breeders, not only the new policy. Certain breeds gets handed in more often than others because they are typically owned by a certain type of person- not in all cases, but enough that you can make assumptions. Shelters are full of staffie breeds too- and many shelters are kill shelters. If you stop the unethical breeding, and make the dogs get neutered, they wouldn't be in the shelters.

Is this the one.One of his dogs killed his nephew but not sure if it was him with the nanny dog myth.

The issue here is basically shit legislation.

I'd just like to take this opportunity to raise awareness of the Dogs' Trust Companion Club.

It costs £25 a year and provides you with third-party insurance for your dog. The page says this explicitly includes XL Bullies with exemption certificates. Insurance applies as soon as you make the payment.

I know £25 is still out of reach for some people, but for others, it will be affordable.

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/companion-club

• Third party public liability insurance for your dog(s) – up to £1,000,000 per claim (subject to legal liability being established against you) if your dog causes damage or injury to another person, their property or pets (an excess of £200 applies for the UK and £500 in the Republic of Ireland). This includes dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act that have been exempted, including American Bully XLs.

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/companion-club

AIBU to think the ban on privately rehoming them should have been immediate at point of announcement to prevent this madness?

Yes totally unreasonable.
Because BSL doesn’t work.
Because humans are lazy bastards, always passing the buck.

@Æthelfled Where and how do you think this is taking place. Get dog, pay the rehoming fee, take it to be PTS pay £500- get £200 back? What a money maker! Not. You’d have to be spectacularly brainless to do that.

“I hope they restore dog licencing laws to prevent this happening again. “ Yes- it worked so well last time didn’t it. 😵‍💫

Stop bloody breeding! That’s the answer.

Pretty much sums up the mentality of so many owners of these big powerful breeds - not at all about responsible ownership of a creature that becomes integrated into the family (because they really can't be bothered to put the work in, even if there is argument to say XL bullies can be family pets/good with children) but about image only.

I'm not a huge dog lover but it really is tragic (and regrettably so so predictable) that so many seem destined to be pts because of irresponsible owners.

If people stopped breeding them and looked after them safely then they'd all just die out and no one else will be killed.

Only an absolute idiot would take one of these dogs in. I love dogs, but they are dangerous and it's right to ban them. Any handed into rescue should be PTS, it's not fair on the dog and imo too much of a risk to send them to a new family.

My neighbour has a giant Labrador, and I do mean giant. Nasty thing, badly trained, she can't walk it, it's shocking how little control she has. It drags her down the street and attacks other dogs. She calls it her baby!

Only an absolute idiot would take one of these dogs in

Agree. However there is an abundant supply of these idiots all over the UK, all over social media, posting that they will rehome one of these beasts in the misguided belief they are doing a good thing. Too thick to recognise the risks, too lacking in critical thinking to consider whether it'd be better to put the thing to sleep. And another subset of idiots who want to have this type of dog because they know it's intimidating for the rest of us.

Well . . . the people that have been killed by them can’t really speak up.

The issue is bad human beings procuring dangerous dogs they can’t look after, don’t train and take no safety precautions with

And @KarenNotAKaren the issue is also that these animals are SO big and SO dangerous and can do so much potential damage.

The vicky pollard types mentioned upthread love to spout off about how all dogs can bite/maul/attack which is true. But as is constantly pointed out to them, an attack by an XL bully is often fatal. An attack by a cockadoodlepoo will not be.

OP
I understand your concern in this matter, but must correct your statement in your opening post, "none of this is their (the dogs) fault.
The new legislation has come about because this breed has an unfortunate habit of killing people.
They need to be either banned or controlled. The responsibility for this lies with the owner.

Someone on another thread who had met one of these dogs said it reminded her of a young lion.
It’s quite a telling analogy in a lot of ways. It wouldn’t be the lion’s fault either if idiots started keeping them as pets but in just the same way aggression is in their nature.

I agree with the ban but would also like to see tighter control of dog ownership in general. Tighter breeding controls, make it as inconvenient and expensive for Joe Public to own dogs as possible and it would sort the responsible owners from the irresponsible (more of these than responsible now). People need to be more realistic about there circumstances before getting a dog but most can’t see past the instant gratification stage and then they and their animal become annoying to everyone else because they can either no longer be arsed with it or it’s their precious little fur baby and we must all adore them