XL Bully owner moves to Scotland to protect his dog before ban in England
31.12.2023 - 05:49
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A desperate dog lover moved to Scotland 48 hours before a ban on XL Bully breeds came into force in England.
Former lorry driver Daniel Ward crossed the border on Friday with his eight-stone pet Legend in a motorhome.
The 53-year-old, from London, said the rescue dog wasn’t ready to be muzzled and he couldn’t afford to implement strict new rules coming in to force in England and Wales today.
Dithering by the Scottish Government over whether to copy the legislation has created a safe haven for the dogs, which have been responsible for a string of attacks and deaths..
Daniel said: “His favourite thing is to play on the beach. He couldn’t do that with the ban and I can’t take him to the beach with a muzzle on. That’s not fair, it’s why we’re moving.
“It costs £93 to register – that’s almost a month of food for me. I’m living on sandwiches, beans and eggs as every penny has been spent on the journey up here.
“If they ban in Scotland, I’ll move. It’s a disgrace these poor dogs will be put to sleep and politicians don’t give a monkey’s.”
The Sunday Mail has revealed how owners of the potentially lethal dogs are shipping them to Scotland to save them from being killed as they either can’t afford to comply with the ban or are unable to look after them at home.
XL Bullies were banned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this year after a string of fatal attacks but Scottish ministers chose not to implement it. All owners must register dogs, have them muzzled and neutered, have third- party public liability insurance and, by February 1, 2024, have a Certificate of Exemption from the ban.
Critics believe the ban won’t solve the problem as it’s irresponsible owners and breeders who are at fault while other campaigners and victims