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 the wailing about stricter rules for these damn dogs continues…

How did we get this way with pets? Do dogs carry some unknown parasite that turns their owners into half-wits?

I’d like measures against a much wider category of bull breed dogs and large dogs. And I am confident that will happen in time.

@WhatsTheUseOfWorrying far too many assigning human feelings and emotions on to an animal is the problem

I saw a crazy post on Fb by a xl bully fur baby "hun".
The government are saying these dogs are dangerous to whitewash the police shooting of Marshall and Millions.

I’m not much of a dog lover but it’s clear a lot of people get a lot of joy and health benefits both physical and mental from dogs. I would also like tighter controls because the number of out of control dogs is ridiculous. However I do not think it should be a goal to make it expensive for people to own suitable dogs. There are plenty of shit middle class dog owners and good working class ones and I don’t see why we should end up with the former types being able to own dogs but not the latter. By all means use tighter insurance and regulation requirements to stop people owning big aggressive dogs that they don’t have the space or resources for. But don’t do something that will hit, say, the retired widower on a pension, the single mum with an autistic child who is really helped by having a dog in their family. Nudge them towards more suitable dogs and training them properly by a system of regulation that makes it more onerous to have a big dog or one that hasn’t been trained.

I agree with tighter controls on breeding. Breeders should be licensed, a scheme which could be self-funded via the cost of the initial licenses and annual renewal fees. I know of two people who breed their dogs for profit, they have two bitches each with both bitches being bred every time they're in heat then the puppies are sold for £1000-£1200 each. Then when they get too knackered for breeding, they get them PTS and get two new bitches. It's disgusting, it's cruel and it's sadly not uncommon amongst backyard breeders.

It should be a regulated industry.

Breeders should be inspected in order to become registered and periodically inspected after to check they're still complying with regulations.

When we rescued our dog we had to prove we had space for the dog (a video call tour of our home), we had to show we'd arranged pet insurance, we rent so we had to show we had the landlord's permission to keep a dog, and we had to show a bank statement to show we had the financial means to care for a dog. We also had a supervised meet and greet to see if we were suited and to show that our children knew how to act responsibly around the dog. In the day of adoption the dogs chip details were changed over to ours and we had to sign a form saying that if the dog ever needs to be rehomed we must contact the shelter beforehand. If a cat and dog shelter staffed entirely by volunteers and run on donations can manage these checks then a breeder getting upwards of £1000 per puppy can too.

It wouldn't stop all backyard breeders, there would still be unregulated breeders and the resulting dogs but there would be far less and those outside the system would be easier to spot and therefore easier to stop.

This could of all been prevented if the breeding of dogs was done by licensed professionals only.
The average person doesn't need their pet to get pregnant.
We are pushing the can down the road for future breeds by still letting any Tom dick or Harry get pets they can breed from.

Breeders who breed 3 or more litters a year then are required to be licensed under current rules. If you have suspicions about anyone then you can talk to the council licencing department who will investigate.

Licenced breeders are inspected regularly, and a good breeder will show you a copy of the certificate.

Bit biased as I think ALL dogs should be muzzled and on a lead at all times in public. These horrific vicious brutes should be PTS. Really the best thing. Anyone taking them on now is clearly not going to be a responsible owner, and given lack of policing for this rule (and in general) these attacks will doubtless continue with more people maimed or killed. Astonishing really that it has taken so many incidents to prompt this requirement but can't imagine it will be obeyed much, if at all, given the aforementioned lack of policing, and attitude of the type of people who want this type of animal.

I followed on after @KarenNotAKaren s Vicky Pollard post so hoped it would be known it was sarcasm - But glad you saw it was sarcasm

XL Bullly owners usually say “ He just wants to play/ he’s a soft lump/ he wouldn’t hurt a fly/ nanny dog… “
when in reality they are volatile, aggressive to other dogs, highly unpredictable against children and adults - including their adopters and owners.
Even an experienced trainer has been killed by one.

Personally I don’t think ANY dog is safe around young children- I’d never leave any dog with a baby or toddler - (or unknown older child unsupervised.)

Happy New Year to you too 👍

That’s just so appallingly “ Hunnish”
Those two XL’s were with a bloke who had a related conviction and was banned from owning dogs at the time.
The poor woman whose little dog these XLs went for had loads of abuse from the Huns.

The police clearly knew what had gone on beforehand to have got armed police out.

They’d not so that for a Great Dane.

To be banned from keeping dogs for years means a serious incident must have occurred- dog fighting or cruelty.

Sadly this is probably true for lots. Using a muzzle takes away from that snarling lethal weapon look they are going for. Absolute arseholes many of those "owners".

Yep.

The only person on my Facebook talking about saving bullies is an absolute screaming idiot who I have to keep on there for family reasons. She's also a Trump supporter funnily enough.

The amount of pathetic posts I'm seeing with AI generated images of XL's marching in packs 'across the rainbow bridge' - as if they themselves aren't causing many to be PTS by refusing to pay for or organise exemption and muzzle their dogs!!

Lazy, tight, heartless bastards (who are idiots for buying such a breed in the first place).

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

Yes I do get that @KonTikki - but that's the breed in general. I mean it's not (many) individual dogs' fault.

I'm no fan of the XL Bully at all. But whilst as a breed there is clearly a too high incidence of issues, making the breed dangerous and unpredictable - it's probably not universal. I think there are probably quite a number who genuinely are lovely dogs and for them, on an individual level, it's not their fault. They didn't ask morons to breed them or have any control over being born.

Generally it's a very sad situation for a lot of these dogs. But still necessary.

The nonsense that’s all over social media is a total proof of why they had to be banned in the first place. Stupid, ignorant people raging against the machine and demanding the ‘poor babies’ have ‘forever homes’ that they deserve! There was never all this fuss when people were being killed by them.

people have caused this mess, not dogs. If they need pts then fine, they won’t know if it’s don’t kindly. Humans who are upset about it only have themselves to blame.

The amount of pathetic posts I'm seeing with AI generated images of XL's marching in packs 'across the rainbow bridge' - as if they themselves aren't causing many to be PTS by refusing to pay for or organise exemption and muzzle their dogs!!

And the numerous nice-natured pet dogs their horrible animals have ripped apart in front of their traumatised owners.
I just don't get how anyone who is a dog-lover generally can support these things. They're a curse on other dogs.

THIS totally.

I had my own gentle dog and her companion charged by an off lead XL Bully - I put my dog and friend's on their leads and got behind a gate and held gate shut with my knees- but the XL brute crashed through the fencing.

It didn't;t know which of the two dogs to go for first.
My two were terrified and silent.. pulling hard on their leads to get away, so I released them.

The XL shitbull crashed around trying to catch them, while it's owner was hopeless and powerless.

I was injured trying to catch the hideous thing {the owner seemed scared of it}

One of the dogs I was with ran in blind panic.

The XL shitbull got mine cornered - I grabbed it's collar and thankfully my weight slowed it down {possibly by closing off it's airway} - it dragged me along and down some steps - sheer adrenaline kept me holding on to it's {thankfully strong} collar.

I have never felt such a strong animal in my life..and I'm used to horses from Shires {Young's Brewery} to TB's and none were as unmanageable as that hippo.

My friend's dog and mine were thankfully ok due to their youth and speed, but reports of a loose {collarless} XL shitbully in that area that has been leaping up at people mean I no longer walk in that area willingly.

The Dog Warden picked up my friend's loose dog {caught by a wonderful street sweeper who saw her running terrified but caught her with a bit of his lunch}

Dog Warden said these things are a total liability and absolutely not suitable as pets - they have taken in a lot before the ban was announced ''To get them out of the Community'' -almost all showing human aggression and definitely dog aggression.

Says a lot about these types of irresponsible dog owners. They'd rather just re-home rather than get the certificate and a muzzle 🤨🙄🤦‍♀️

I’ve never understood the objection to muzzling dogs in public. It would not only reduce the number of biting and nipping incidents, it’d reduce the fear of attack.
A lot of anti-dog sentiment is driven by people being afraid of being bitten, however realistic that may not be. So muzzle dogs and the perceived threat reduces massively.

Christ @oakleaffy, that must have been truly terrifying, I'm so incredibly glad you were all ok. I'd like to hope I'd have the same courage as you in that situation. I think hippo is an excellent description of how powerful these dogs are.
We had collies when I was growing up and we were always wary of them around strangers and they were never left alone with or near children.
We had 5 acres of land for them to roam but always muzzled them when out walking as (despite them never seeing sheep) they had an innate instinct to round up and herd people - on foot or bike, other animals and cars which could invariably cause issues so they were muzzled and kept on leads in public places.

I saw a post yesterday on our local FB page of a terrifying looking dog saying something like ‘Urgent - needs a home or will be put down in shelter. 1 year old. Am told good with children’ .

All the posts underneath it were all ‘hope he finds a home hun’

I can’t have been the only person reading it thinking WTF. A dog you know nothing about, who is a dangerous breed and probably distressed and traumatised after being moved around different homes being taken into any home is a massive risk to anyone, let alone a home with children.

I sadly think we will be hearing about a lot more fatal dog attacks soon from all these xl bully rescues being taken in by people who know nothing about them.

@oakleaffy that is terrifying! You're very brave, thank god you and the poor dogs were okay.

I don't agree with the ban. It's based off opinions of those who have never come into contact with a XL bully dog.

Ian Price certainly came into contact with them. Unfortunately we'll never know his opinion of them as they mauled him to death.