Police break silence on plans for mass XL Bully walk through major UK city

23 September 2023 , 18:12

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Concern has grown regarding XL Bullies as some have been linked to attacks recently (Image: Getty Images)

Police have tonight said they are aware of plans for a mass XL Bully walk which has sparked fury.

Dog owners, including children, are expected to gather with their XL Bully puppies in and around Handsworth, Birmingham to highlight how "gentle" the breed can be amid the Government's plans to ban it. The organiser initially encouraged families to bring their larger XL Bullies but made a U-turn yesterday.

Police hadn't commented on the walk, scheduled for next Saturday, but today issued a short statement regarding it. West Midlands Constabulary said: "We're aware of the planned event and are making efforts to contact the organisers to discuss their plans."

Rishi Sunak has announced plans to ban the XL Bully breed (AP)

In a win for Mirror's campaign, Rishi Sunak called XL Bullies "a danger to our communities" when he spoke out last week following a spate of dog attacks - some involving the breed - across the UK recently. A dad died when two XL bullies mauled him in Stonnall, Staffordshire last week, and in Birmingham itself, just six miles or so from where the rally is expected to take place on Saturday, an 11-year-old girl was attacked at a public carwash by a crazed XL Bully.

But Jake Harris, organiser of the walk, altered his plans to only allow dogs no older than six months to the event, Birmingham Live reports. He faced a backlash from communities in the city about the safety of such a gathering, particularly with children welcome.

Girl, 4, mauled to death in dog attack pictured as neighbours hear mum's screams

The 21-year-old man told the BBC: "The simple fact is I don't want no camera taking pictures of a dog that's barking to go play with another dog because social media has this power to do numbers - they can portray this whole meet off one picture. So if you want to come and you want to bring a dog, bring a puppy. Don't bring no big, full-grown dog. It's not going to be one of them actual meets, it's turned into more of a protest."

Explaining how the walk was organised, he told the BBC: "This has been planned for about two, three months. It wasn't meant to be some big walk that has now blown all over the social media.

"This was literally just a few mates coming together to have a little Bully meet". Asked whether the response to the event had been positive or negative, he admitted it had been a "mix of both".

He continued: "Everyone has their own opinion on this breed but there are a lot of good opinions out there as well. If all goes to plan for Saturday, there may be people turning up with families."

Alexander Brock