Volunteer drives hundreds of miles to rehome bully XLs in Scotland

Sammy Wilkinson has driven 33 bully XL dogs to new homes so far, including one trip with two dogs last weekend.

A dog lover has been driving to Scotland to rehome American bully XLs.

Sammy Wilkinson said he had taken 10-12 dogs to Scotland so far and had rehomed about 33 in total, as tighter laws on their ownership were introduced on 31 December in England and Wales.

The laws have not been introduced in Scotland.

Mr Wilkinson, from Tipton, West Midlands, said he had been inundated with owners needing help and was making another trip on Friday.

He said he was passionate about helping dogs that might otherwise be abandoned.

It began in October when he posted an offer on social media to help dog owners who needed transport for run-of-the-mill trips, such as vet appointments.

From mid-November he started receiving messages from people who could not or no longer wanted to keep their bully XL dogs and so began to work with other volunteers to find new owners which he said they do their best to vet first.

Mr Wilkinson said he was passionate about helping dogs that might otherwise be abandoned.

Bully XL owners in England and Wales who wish to keep their dogs must apply for permission to do so by the end of this month.

Owners must take out insurance, neuter their dogs, and pay a £92.40 fee. Dogs must also must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said the government had met a pledge to take "quick and decisive action" following a series of attacks, with one Staffordshire man dying after being attacked by an American bully XL.

Mr Wilkinson said he was seeing some owners who bought bully XL dogs during Covid lockdowns, when they became what he called "a status dog", and were now giving them up.

"A lot of owners have been irresponsible, in taking these dogs on in the first place," he said.

Correction 23 January 2024: This story has been amended to make clear Sammy Wilkinson had taken 10-12 dogs to Scotland to be rehomed rather than 33.