In the wake of Rishi Sunak confirming plans to ban the American XL bully in the UK, a man has been left fearing for the welfare of his 18 newborn puppies.
Earlier today (15 September), Sunak shared that the dogs will be banned in the UK by the end of the year.
This has left Scotsman Jamie, from North Lanarkshire, in quite a predicament as his three-year-old XL bully has just welcomed 18 puppies.
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Jamie said it wasn't his intention to breed his dog, but the pooch ended up mating with his sister's dog - also an XL bully.
"My plan was to neuter her and I actually enquired about it but it was too close to her season," he told LBC.
"We took a lot of precautions to avoid her having contact with other animals. It was only about the fifth week when we thought it was clear that this happened."
Jamie went on to insist that the puppies weren't bred for financial gain and that he and his sister simply want to get the tiny pooches into as many 'loving' long-term homes as they can.
If the puppies don't get homes, Jamie's worried they will end up in rescue centres or worse.
"It would be absolutely heartbreaking to have to hand these dogs over to rescue centres - because the chance now of them being put to sleep is soul destroying," he shared.
So, what exactly does the ban mean for current owners?
Once the new legislation comes into force, it will be illegal for XL bullys to be sold, abandoned, bred or given away.
If you already have this type of breed, it's possible that the police may take your pet off you - even if it hasn't been acting dangerous and/or a complaint has been lodged.
Police will need a warrant to retrieve the dog from your home, however.
But it isn't all negative, as there is some hope people will be able to keep their dogs.
If you have an XL bully and a court finds that it isn't a danger to the public, it may be put on the Index of Exempt Dogs meaning you're given a Certificate of Exemption, which lasts the duration of the dog's life.
For your pooch to be eligible, it has to have been neutered and microchipped and kept on a lead while muzzled when out in public.
Your bully would also have to be kept in a secure place that it cannot escape from.
For you as the owner, you have to be aged 16 or over, take out insurance against your dog injuring other people, show your certificate to police officer or warden if asked for it (either at the time or within five days), and keep the Index of Exempt Dogs updated on your address. You must also inform them if your dog passes away.
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Niamh Shackleton