DOZENS of XL Bully owners in Scotland gathered for a meet-up at the weekend in a bid to change attitudes towards the controversial breed.
Animal lovers flocked with their pet pooches to the group walk event at a large outdoor space in a defiant fightback against a government ban on the dogs.
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The doggy enthusiasts gathered with several Bully-type pets for the event at Roseisle Walks in Moray on Sunday.
Images from the meet-up show XL Bully dogs of varying shapes and sizes with their owners, some of which are wearing muzzles.
The walk was organised by Taylor Stirling who hopes they help to shine a more positive light on the breed as they face tighter laws.
Taylor, from Keith, said it was a way to help owners struggling with the new rules that came into effect on February 23.
And 21-year-old owner Taylor believes the Moray walk was a success.
She said: “It’s really just to help owners who are struggling with the rules like muzzling, socialising and knowing what to do.
“We do it in a big open space as not all dogs get along but they enjoy the walk and the freedom that they had.
“We even had a few Staffie owners, as although they know their dog isn’t an XL Bully, others might not and it’s all about the what-ifs, so they have questions too.
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“The meet-ups give people a chance to speak to others, get advice, even vent.
“Some owners are struggling.”
Taylor said the event passed without any doggy behavioural issues and the group were even treated to some coffee, donuts and burgers.
The XL Bully owner also told how they received a positive response from other members of the public.
She added: “We had a lot of people say to us they disagreed with the ban.
“And these walks aren’t in place to change opinions.
“Attacks happen and they’re not right and I believe a dog licence should be in place and you should go through an application to get one but this is just putting a plaster over a much bigger situation.
“Some people don’t agree with the ban but they’re agreeing to follow the rules as best they can to give their dog the best life.”
Taylor says the safe groups will be in place once a month every month and she hopes to split them between Aberdeen and Moray.
She says the meet-ups are to help change the negative media narrative on the breed saying: “It’s very unfair to tar a whole breed with one brush.
“The idiots who have ruined the breed will eventually just move on to another breed.”
And she says the walks are not just because positive for XL-Bully owners.
Taylor added: “It’s not just an XL-Bully thing.
“I set up one for my Gran the other day and she’s got a Westie.
“Owners are struggling and if it helps their mental health to socialise, to talk, to vent then it’s a good thing.”
The new laws mean the dogs have to be kept on a lead and muzzled in a public place.
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And it is illegal to sell, advertise, gift or exchange the breed.
But rules will be tightened from August when it will become an offence to own the breed without an exemption certificate or having applied for one.
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