XL Bully: Southampton pet sanctuary says owners want rid of dogs

Rose Milne, the rescue co-ordinator at the Second Chance Animal Rescue in Mansbridge, said that she has been receiving more than ten calls every week from owners that want rid of their XL bullies.

Rose Milne has worked with dogs at her shelter for more than 35 years (Image: Second Chance Animal Rescue)

She said: “Since the announcement of the ban, owners are offloading them to every animal or dog shelter across the country.

“I have seen an XL bully for sale online for as little as ten pounds – that is how badly owners want rid of them.”

On September 15, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the American XL bully breed would be added to the list of dog breeds banned in the UK by the end of 2023.

READ MORE: Southampton man feared dog was dead after XL Bully attack

Rescue co-ordinator Rose said: “The really tragic part is that many of these bullies are only 11 months old or younger.

“With animal shelters rapidly running out of room the sad truth is that many of these bullies will end up being put down.

“These poor dogs are now paying for the sins of irresponsible dog owners. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and the picture is only going to look worse when the ban comes into force.

“An XL bully is a cross between six different dogs and so dog wardens are going to have a hell of a job to police the ban.”

Rose said that when the Pitbull ban came into force in 1991, owners were not allowed to sell or give away the dog meaning that many had to be put down.

She added: “It is the irresponsible owners and dog breeders that should be paying for attacks not the breed.

“There are just as many friendly and harmless XL bullies as there are vicious and nasty ones.

In September, a man’s dog was nearly killed in Southampton by an XL bully who was off the lead. The man feared his dog was dead before the bully was dragged away by its owners.