A local animal rescue centre have issued an urgent appeal as they face an "adoption emergency." Freshfields say they need forever homes for four dogs in their care, ahead of new laws banning XL Bully type dogs.
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00:00 "This is not what we want for Dexter or any of these dogs for the rest of their life.
00:06 Even the best rescue is no substitute for a loving home."
00:09 A local animal rescue centre have issued an urgent appeal as they face an adoption emergency.
00:16 Freshfields say they need forever homes for four dogs in their care ahead of new laws
00:22 banning XL bullies.
00:24 "We are looking for pet and kid free only because this is their final chance of a home.
00:30 After the 31st of December they can't be moved.
00:33 So we've got to remove every possible risk that it might not work at this point."
00:40 In October the breed was added to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act
00:45 with it becoming illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow XL
00:52 bully dogs to stray in England and Wales.
00:55 This will come into effect from the 31st of December 2023.
00:59 "Our reaction from a dog welfare point of view is just an absolute nightmare.
01:06 You know from 31st of December we won't be able to rehome a single dog that is XL bully.
01:14 So the problem that we've got is the details of what will constitute an XL bully are there
01:21 but how it's applied the details aren't.
01:24 So is there any room for interpretation or all of that.
01:27 So that means we've got to err on the side of caution and any dogs that might be considered
01:35 type we've got to assume would be otherwise we're risking them being stuck in a kennel
01:40 for 10 or more years for the rest of their life."
01:44 Freshfields say potential adopters coming forward before the end of the year is the
01:48 last hope for one year old Moose, two year old Ora, Dexter aged seven and golden oldie
01:56 Sonny who's 12.
01:58 The animal rescue are offering a substantial support package for anyone who adopts one
02:03 of their XL bullies.
02:05 "We've got a special package of support for the adopters so we're not going to charge
02:11 an adoption fee.
02:12 I think it's important for people to know that we'll cover any of the costs associated
02:16 with getting a certificate of exemption that anyone who's got these types of dogs is going
02:21 to need and for people to know that that's actually not a scary thing.
02:26 There's loads of people doing it and it will entail the main thing right now is muzzle
02:31 training your dog so that that's not a shock to them.
02:34 Other than that they just need a short lead, third party insurance which sounds like it's
02:40 an expense but actually if you join the dogs trust as a member you can get that for about
02:44 £28 and we are also willing to cover the cost for ongoing vet care, non-emergency vet
02:52 care so long as they can come to our vet here.
02:55 We'll be on the end of the phone any time anyone needs us, we're just there for anybody
02:59 who can give a heart and home to these dogs."