“In the vast tapestry of life, there are stories that touch our hearts and remind us of the enduring power of compassion and rescue. This is the heartwarming story of a lonely puppy, found alone in a deep ditch, crying out for help—a tale that underscores the profound impact that human kindness can have on the lives of the most vulnerable beings.
The story unfolds in a quiet, rural setting, where nature and solitude intertwine. On a serene afternoon, the cries of a puppy broke the stillness, echoing from the depths of a deep ditch by the side of the road. These plaintive pleas for help reached the ears of a passing motorist, who couldn’t ignore the call of a soul in need.
As the rescuer approached the ditch, they were met with a heart-wrenching sight—a tiny, shivering pup, barely a few weeks old, trembling with fear and loneliness. It was clear that this vulnerable being had been abandoned and left to fend for itself in this unforgiving world.
Without hesitation, the rescuer extended a hand of hope and love. They gently lifted the puppy from the depths of the ditch, cradling it close to their heart. The puppy’s cries of despair soon turned into whimpers of relief, as if it knew it had found a guardian angel.
The journey to healing and recovery had begun. The puppy’s cries for love and attention were met with a shower of affection, as if it knew it had found an everlasting source of warmth and security. Gradually, but surely, the puppy’s fear began to recede, replaced by the blossoming of trust and companionship.
Days turned into weeks, and the once-lonely puppy was transformed. It learned to play, to wag its tail in joy, and to offer unconditional love in return for the love it had received. The puppy’s cries of desperation had been replaced by the song of happiness and the enduring power of human kindness.
Today, the once-lonely puppy is a vibrant, happy, and thriving dog, a living embodiment of the boundless potential for transformation and the enduring strength of the human-animal bond. This heartwarming tale inspires us all to heed the call of those in need, for in our acts of rescue and compassion, we have the power to save and transform lives, offering love and a second chance to the most vulnerable among us.”
‘Save our beautiful bullies’: The dog lovers fighting to save American XLs as government ban approaches
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.
“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.
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.
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.
“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.”
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