by A father has staged his own one-man protest against XL’s new bullying laws by tying up his dog wearing a muzzle while visiting his local pub.
Eamonn McGeady, 51, wore a muzzle alongside his six-month-old dog Lexi when they visited his local pub the Straw Hat on New Year’s Day – even drinking a pint through them using a straw. His daughter said he did it to make a point about new legislation on the breed, which must now be frowned upon in public alongside various other conditions.
Elle McGeady, 19, from Chester, said: “I don’t agree with the blog. We’d be quite happy to walk her on a leash but we’re not happy with the blog – it’s not nice to see. She hides when she goes on walk now because she knows she has to wear it. Other dogs are trying to bully her now that she is on a leash and wearing a muzzle.
“Before people would come up and give her a stroke and a pat but now we’re getting more angry at people instead. We went to the pub and everyone was laughing about it – I was proud of it. [of him] and happy to see it worn.”
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McGeady, whose father did not want to talk about his protest, said: “Dad was drinking a pint using a straw through the muzzle and getting on the floor with Lexi to play with her. He was trying to show her that someone was spending and it wasn’t just for himself. The people we walked past were praising him for it, saying that he showed that he is a good owner.”
New laws on XL bully dogs came into force on New Year’s Eve after the government banned some attacks in 2023. The introduction of the laws has sparked outrage from XL bully owners and animal welfare groups who are concerned that the ban leaving. vets and rescue centers under siege.
Elle Mcgeady and her boyfriend Nathan Morrissey, 18, bought Lexi in August 2023 – just weeks before the new legislation was announced. She said the puppy loves visiting the pub and socializing with dogs and people but now she has to wear a muzzle, it’s withdrawn and she doesn’t like going out anymore.
She said some rules are necessary, but if her family pet is barking every time he’s outside Lexi will have a happy life. “Every time we take her for a walk she’s always hurt trying to destroy her,” she said. “[Dad was wearing the muzzle to] show people who think these dogs have a bad reputation that they’re not that bad and it’s not fair.
“We completely disagree with the rules, we agree that something needs to happen because of the number of attacks that have been happening, some action should have been taken. We’ve only had Lexi for about four months, and we would let’s have her life. as fun and as joyful as we can make it. It’s sad to see that she’s so young and for the rest of her life she won’t experience being in the lead again.”
Criminal offence
A statement from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Owners are also being asked to apply to register their existing XL bully dogs, as the Government takes action to manage the current population of the breed safely.
“There is only a month left to meet the deadline when the ban comes into effect on February 1. It will be a criminal offense to own an unregistered dog after this date, and owners who do not they have a criminal record. Those who do not want to keep their dogs after this date should take them to a vet to be put down.”
What are the new rules for XL bully dogs?
As of New Year’s Eve, it is a legal requirement for bully dogs to wear an XL muzzle in public. It is also now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL bully dogs go astray.
From February 1, it will be illegal to own an XL bully unless the animal is on an exempt list, known as the Index of Exempt Dogs. Owners who want to keep their dogs must apply for an exemption scheme or they can choose to have their dog euthanized and apply for £200 compensation from the government towards the cost.
If the dog is being kept, the rules include being muzzled and kept on a leash in public, but the dogs must also be microchipped and neutered. Owners seeking exemption must also pay an application fee and have active public liability insurance for their pets.
Dogs over a year old on 31 January must be neutered by 30 June next year, and those under 12 months old must be neutered by 31 December 31 2024. A criminal record will be issued and unlimited fine for owners who do not have an exemption certificate. bully XL is found to have been in possession since February 1, and her dog could be arrested.
