An XL bully dog from England found tied to a lamppost after being abandoned ahead of a ban on the breed coming into force in Scotland has found a new home.
On Friday, it became an offence to breed, sell, exchange, gift, advertise, abandon or allow a XL bully to stray.
The dogs must be muzzled and on a lead in public, including in a car.
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home was trying to find a home for two-year-old XL bully Kira who was found abandoned and tied to a lamppost at Musselburgh Lagoons.
Because she was chipped, the original owner was tracked back to Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and had rehomed Kira to someone in Berwick due to the ban in England.
Kira was among a number of XL bullies charities were urgently searching for homes for before the ban came in with concerns they would have to be put down otherwise.
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home boss Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine said her and her staff were “living in fear” of what happens after Friday.
But on Thursday, the charity announced Kira was going to her new home.
“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped us by sharing opur posts and spreading the word about Kira this week,” a spokesperson for the charity said.
Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home
“We’re so delighted to be able to share some happy news during such a difficult time.”
Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home said: “We are delighted and relieved to have found Kira a loving home that matches her needs. We would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt applications for this beautiful girl and to everyone who shared her story and rallied around the home to ensure that Kira got her forever home.
“We will be keeping in touch with Kira’s new owners over the next period and supporting them with their new family member to help them to settle in. We can’t thank the public enough for the care and community spirit that has been shown.”
The Scottish SPCA was seeking homes for two dogs confirmed to meet the characteristics of XL bullies, and two other dogs which might meet the physical conformation standard.
However, the SSPCA’s charity website was suffering technical difficulties on Thursday and Friday.
In January, after the UK Government announced tighter restrictions on the breed, there was an increase in the transportation of XL bully puppies and dogs across the border.
Fears had previously been raised by animal campaigners over the safety of dogs brought across the border after the First Minister announced a ban would match the one in England and Wales.
The Scottish SPCA has branded the Dangerous Dogs Act “outdated” and said any dog could be “out of control and dangerous”, describing the four dogs seeking homes as thriving with training and affection.
From Friday, February 23, it will be legal to own an XL bully dog but owners must ensure their dogs are muzzled and on a lead when in a public place.
Stage two will come into force from July 31 and will make it an offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate or having applied for an exemption certificate.
This means existing XL bully dog owners will need to consider whether they want to keep their dogs and, if so, will have to apply and pay for an exemption permit by that date.
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