Meet the man driving across the country to ‘rescue’ XL bully dogs

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An XL bully lover driving 250 miles a day to rehome dozens of the dogs says some house owners are cruelly abandoning the breed after Sunak authorities introduced ban in December 2023. It will probably be unlawful to personal a bully XL in England and Wales from 1 February.

Sammy Wilkinson hit the headlines after taking 35 of the banned dogs to new houses since October, racking up to 6,000 miles with journeys to so far as Scotland from his West Midlands house.

But the 29-year-old tanning salon proprietor has instructed The Independent that his job has grow to be tougher with irresponsible house owners ditching their pets.

He’s found three deserted in the space round his house in Tipton, whereas serving to rescue one other present in an emaciated state in a cage outdoors a automotive wash.

It comes after one XL bully was discovered tied up and set on hearth in Carshalton in south London.

“Whether the owners have left it too late or they have panicked, we’ve already seen a rise in XL bully dogs being abandoned in the area,” Mr Wilkinson stated. “It’s heartbreaking and is just another sign that the government ban on breeds just isn’t the right way to tackle the issue.”

The authorities launched a ban on XL bully dogs in a bid to sort out an increase in assaults. Since 1 January, it’s been unlawful to promote or purchase the breed in England and Wales, whereas house owners will need to have them stored on a leash and muzzle whereas outdoors.

It comes earlier than an entire ban on the breed from 1 February, though these with exemption certificates – which require the canine to be insured and neutered – can preserve the pets.

The change in regulation has led to a scramble amongst house owners wanting to both apply for certificates or rehome their pets. In response, Mr Wilkinson supplied to assist individuals rehome the dogs and has since made journeys across the country.

On New Year’s Eve he was pictured driving two dogs to a brand new house in Scotland, the place the ban doesn’t apply. On Friday he drove one canine to County Durham, and on Tuesday he’s heading to Carlisle for a “meet and greet” forward of a possible rehoming.

“I’ve got people coming to me every few minutes,” he stated. “Owners are desperate and I wish I could help more of them.”

But some house owners, in accordance to Mr Wilkinson, are merely ditching the pets.

On Thursday night time, he helped rescue a canine stored in a cage outdoors a automotive wash in Dudley Port. He’s additionally discovered three XL bully dogs deserted, together with one close to a canal in Darlaston and one other caught after a two-day search in Wednesbury.

The ban on the breed confronted sturdy opposition, together with from the RSPCA which as an alternative known as on the authorities ought to herald canine licencing with coaching for house owners to deliver down the variety of assaults.

As canine houses stopped taking in the breed, the charity had stated anticipated an increase in deserted dogs.

Mr Wilklinson stated: “The government has caught the wrong end of the lead. The dogs are born as a blank slate, it is up to the owners to carve them into the right sculpture. It is unfair for us to mark out a particular breed.”

Environment secretary Steve Barclay stated: “The prime minister pledged to take quick and decisive action to protect the public from devastating dog attacks with measures in place by the end of 2023.

“We have met that pledge – it is now a legal requirement for XL bully dogs to be muzzled and on a lead in public. It is also now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL bully dogs stray.”