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They’ve never ever done anything wrong,” one woman says of her three XL bully dogs. “We’ve owned bull breeds for 10 years and they’ve never put a foot wrong, we’ve never had altercations in public, we have had nothing but a positive experience.”
Heather Halls and her husband Chris have spent the past few weeks in disbelief after Rishi Sunak announced in September that American XL bully dogs would be banned in the UK following a spate of high-profile attacks and fatalities.
Not only do three of their family dogs fall into this category, but Chris is a professional dog trainer specialising in bulldog breeds, meaning that their entire livelihood is now at stake. They also compete in the Protection Sports Association, by which two of their XL bullies have been awarded titles.
![<p>Professional dog trainer Chris Halls with his XL bully Odin, who has won awards in PSA competitions </p>](https://rescueanimals.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-6-scaled.jpeg)
“Essentially, our whole world and what we’ve worked towards in the last few years is about to get flipped on its head,” says Heather.
The couple have now joined forces with other XL bully owners to launch an official campaign to challenge the government’s stance, with more than £86,000 raised in a matter of days to support legal action.
Campaigners from Don’t Ban Me – Licence Me are asking the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to rethink their plans and are fundraising for a judicial review.
Poor breeding to blame for XL bullies attacking people, says dog trainer
With the support of their barrister John Cooper KC, they sent a warning of their intention to launch legal action to the environment secretary Therese Coffey last Thursday, as they hope to scrap the planned ban in favour of tightened laws around breeding and ownership.
Under new legislation, it will be illegal to sell, breed or abandon an XL bully-type dog from 31 December, while it will be an offence to own one from 1 February 2024 unless it is registered to the government’s database, the Index of Exempted Dogs.
![<p>Owners will be required to muzzle their XL bullies from New Year’s Eve onwards </p>](https://rescueanimals.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-8-scaled.jpeg)
Once their animal is registered, owners will have to abide by strict regulations, which include keeping their dogs muzzled and on a lead at all times in public, having them neutered and microchipped, and having to carry a certificate of exemption at all times to show police officers or council dog wardens.
Alongside descriptions of head size and physical features, the government has defined an American XL bully as an adult male from 20in in height, or an adult female from 19in. However, given that XL bullies have never been defined as an official breed, this has confused owners of cross-breeds such as mastiffs and mongrels.
The decision to ban the breed came after deaths relating to XL bully attacks, including those of 10-year-old Jack Lis and 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch. Two people were injured in recent days in Mansfield by a suspected XL bully, while one report holds the breed responsible for nearly 50 per cent of all dog attacks in the UK.
Charities with the banned breed in their care will now receive £100 compensation for euthanising an XL bully, while owners will get £200 compensation if a vet euthanises their dog.
![<p>Sophie Coulthard with her XL bully Billy, whom she trains in TikTok videos </p>](https://rescueanimals.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-5.jpeg)
Speaking to The Independent, Sophie Coulthard, an organiser of the campaign group, says: “The problem with this knee-jerk reaction is that it won’t stop dog attacks. We need to focus on licensing and educating owners, with compulsory training and tougher punishments to prevent people from impulse-buying dogs.”
Sophie has owned her XL bully, Billy, for the last year, and has developed a following on TikTok by posting educational videos of his training as well as details of the proposed ban.
“One thing we’ve found is that people are really misinformed on the full impact of the ban,” she says. “What the government is asking me to do is look at their guidelines and commit him to a life on the muzzle, not go on holidays with him, have him muzzled in the car.
“There’d be no more playing with a toy in the park, anyone in social housing could lose their housing or their dog, you can no longer hire private fields to take dogs off the lead. It is really reducing the quality of life for these dogs.”
The group is arguing for the UK to take a similar approach to Canada’s Calgary model, an educational, licensing and stronger enforcement programme that has successfully reduced the number of dog bites by 70 per cent.
![<p>Coulthard has described the ban as a ‘knee-jerk reaction’ and called for licensing laws to replace it </p>](https://rescueanimals.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-7.jpeg)
“I understand there’s been attacks, and I fully sympathise with anyone who has been a victim, because it’s horrific,” Heather says. “Dog ownership is a complete and utter mess, and people got these dogs in lockdown and haven’t socialised them or trained them. My son was bitten by a dachshund that shot out of a front door, so it’s not just XL bullies.
“Licensing is the right way forward. It’s proven to work in other countries and you can’t ignore the evidence that it works.”
Since the announcement, her five-year-old son panics each time he hears a siren, out of fear that police officers will arrive to take his dogs away. “Our dogs are our family pets,” says Heather. “I’ll do anything to keep my dogs safe. I will fight with my last breath.”
Malnourished and Helpless Mother Dog Desperately Seeks Adoption While Nurturing Her Six Puppies
![](https://rescueanimals.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-35-1024x538.png)
Seeing an animal suffer is one of the most upsetting sights we can witness in our lives. When we hear stories that touch our emotions, it’s difficult to walk on without wondering if they had happy endings. That is possibly why we feel comforted when we see animal lovers and rescuers compassionately helping these terrible animals.
And here is the story of Hope’s little daughter and her offspring, who were abandoned long before the dog gave birth. This truth made it painfully evident that the unfortunate animal had to suffer for a long time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeRhn9CyYNkrD9LKRPagmv3_27CkLwEv62vuX8WRBoVuaPAnywpjM89UBRpefx97XZx6bEASvdGPElemVAHXlr1F-5DuCCisVDhwUfqRRh-iJmzJvJ4kRLVqWK9VjDPxX-m4cOJS2fLuDpSsnyoNS8nIGxCNm_0jLN42peQsFELOHqWCOc_3tUHfb-Q/w640-h454/Pain%20of%20Teenager%20Dog%20Mom%20Suffering%20To%20Nurture%20Her%20Babies%20Heartbreaking%20Rescue%200-20%20screenshot.jpg)
The sad truth was only revealed when an animal rights activist approached the area where the hairy girl lay. Hope was cuddled by the female, who assured her that she was nursing six little puppies. As a demonstrator, she declared she had never witnessed anything so destructive to her spirit.
“I was ready to feed all the dogs when Hope, a female who was half her type’s size and could hardly move, approached me with her sparkling eyes,” the rescuer explained.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9C0GbSmfWHdqtxEclRtiY_Z33bmYfgR2Vx2i0BjySCWZOLfPvLG1eXGRYy8wfDyVGsUnaAcwY33AGhtewFM8ecSkylsAqm_e5JjI6J0M801awnrkxazKXXMO3LIeH6rN0uIRXORQgSqSJSs9tLv-3u9GZFpwZF5h64bNUf5OD7mlhUN0juju1gVITw/w640-h494/Pain%20of%20Teenager%20Dog%20Mom%20Suffering%20To%20Nurture%20Her%20Babies%20Heartbreaking%20Rescue%200-28%20screenshot.jpg)
She took her in her arms tenderly and without hesitation. She learned there were ten cubs, four of which died as a result of the savagery they had been put to alongside their mother and siblings.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYtuGMx5OHg4iHfDX3eWEsd2kY-uEn6fAtN1CqiclPafaOc8u7W3IZ2jWHABaV5C2R-qOarVK-T7B8MaZYp09LtwV5UpeY_CxauAqHwc7c9sJwISnubWWUUKBm6j2X8fYToJm09OINpq7mmrLFGz7p7OT4cllYuCKUS7Wys0SJ8ug3qEQQfPauOIOQw/w640-h440/Pain%20of%20Teenager%20Dog%20Mom%20Suffering%20To%20Nurture%20Her%20Babies%20Heartbreaking%20Rescue%201-18%20screenshot.jpg)
Some of these innocent little canines perished as a result of snake bites, others as a result of harsh weather, but the four that died unfairly, with no one to blame, were truly tragic.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpmCR7qMQ0iGIztRaaFp8O8nMrIwmfPEvM5uPV12rH62TnazTzAGcR3fv5Nqj39ZbVJtfB-Q2jkkszHWYdvjCK1RSqvAbF-O74cTgpkvwr0SDtkFGjoK_k1dG4DiimRIVJJ--8uAiHix5ASlhv7guDptsNmFb23qdKbDBudGLN8DrjOi_MJx4XYb8pA/w640-h542/hope-y-sus-hijos-9-500x517-1.jpg)
Hope was in a precarious situation. Her weight was less than half that of an animal her size, breed, and age. She did needed to feed eight cubs in order to keep them all alive.
The lady realized she had to do everything she could to ensure that the animals could be adopted and receive the care they needed to live and heal. As a result, she began to provide for certain families who took charge of their own life.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbS9XBQXBWqdAQo0De7aqZ7pkAPtolGQhUmfEWHeVyn0fWb8eD29kXL5ZxmmLPqamtsXwM1Hho3qJfpSph_B9_37NA8TgwNg2g_Axj7allJTk8aNRglp506xMv7DB1y4pVevr2xlGxMrbZ6sG5emqiyh93f3KVTHM907xMbOfTMkVJ8wg8lvsAOGh7A/w640-h584/hope-y-sus-hijos-10-500x581-1.jpg)
One of the baptized children, Teddy, now lives like a king. The activist promises him that she will always love him and be his godmother, and she is glad for the aid.
Caramelo and Tobby were also adopted, while Lola, Coco, and Max were still waiting for their families. Max, on the other hand, died in agony from a gastrointestinal infection.
“Thankfully, Coco is now with a new family; Lola was still behind, but the efforts continued,” the campaigner stated.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq80IMdQfDMk0g7bxfFALT9_B6uvv13MlQ-ZKGW2sJaWcXxL3-BH2QPLHHGNNLjcDpnF4-XCwbGGhyaMA3iNDilG7bomRd0jn-IrZlgqMHjyQVyG3q05jQUfRIRKZ98QOigX5QVsM5XiubWiMiR1gQ3eBD8x7t6_TTStsKaJe8OJFE5_zflZvf1smylw/w640-h430/hope-y-sus-hijos-11-750x494-1.jpg)
Hope has already been sterilized, and all of the children have found loving homes, much to everyone’s satisfaction.
Despite the fact that they were late for Lola, she was finally able to fly after 7 months of waiting. Since then, she has been enjoying her new life with her brother Alex.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkcIcxYZYs0icfRDgFW0OMPtJT37Pw2GwSTxQ5gnd0r7cCbIitbHiRzoFMMLzQKd_1_ttPX40Qxm87-GnHOgxbmg3BRIIsSVUDGSRsDUILFbVQJELPMxNDF-eZOQl1apoihnx5sLhcq7eKtf73gqFHRlxjkD7o8NKqpZSI14yc-tT2ub7aHm6Nl3wTw/w640-h570/Pain%20of%20Teenager%20Dog%20Mom%20Suffering%20To%20Nurture%20Her%20Babies%20Heartbreaking%20Rescue%206-57%20screenshot.jpg)
Despite her problems, Hope is a vibrant young woman who is eager to share her love and friendship. You will never have to go through the anguish of a road maternity again. Share this emotional savior with others.
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