Woman fears she will have her assistance dog taken away as it's an XL Bully

16 November 2023 , 23:04

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Josie Shanaham with her dog Mars (Image: Daniel Dayment / SWNS)

A woman who relies on an XL Bully as an assistance dog fears she may lose him due to new laws, especially as she lives in a caravan.

Josie Shanaham, who suffers from bipolar and anxiety, says her life was transformed when she got Mars at the age of 25. The XL Bully is considered an auxiliary aid with the same rights as a guide dog.

However, Josie, 27, is worried that her home will not meet the strict new guidelines for owning this breed. The Government said that from December 31, owners must keep XL bully dogs on a lead and muzzled in public, and securely housed at home.

Josie, from Woodbury, Devon, expressed her concerns saying: "His presence and effect on my mental health opened up our lives and let us out of the cage." She added: "My mum's able to work again, and I'm able to go out and go to college by myself - which I could never have done before Mars."

Josie said her life changed since she got Mars (Daniel Dayment / SWNS)

Mars is an XL Bully (Daniel Dayment / SWNS)

The Government is introducing these new laws following a series of deadly attacks involving XL Bullys. Owners wishing to keep their dogs will have until January 31, 2024, to register them. After this date, it will be illegal to own the breed unless it is registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs, and owners will need to comply with strict requirements, including a £92.40 exemption assessment.

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If you pass you must ensure the dog is microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled in public. And the dog must also be kept in a secure place so it cannot escape. Josie says she fell in love with Mars as soon as she saw him at the breeder's. She only paid £950 as he was the runt of the litter.

Josie said: "Even my mum who was skeptical about me getting an XL Bully fell in love with him after less than a day. He wears a double leash, but he would never hurt anyone, even when smaller dogs attack, he doesn't retaliate at all.

Josie pictured with her assistance dog and her mum Debbie (Daniel Dayment / SWNS)

"As soon as I took him home I connected with him, he always knows when I'm upset, or need any support from him. As far as we know he's the only fully-qualified American XL bully assistance dog in the country."

Josie says she has noticed a change in attitude towards her and Mars since the rise in XL Bully attacks. She said: "I'm scared to go out because the dog is bringing so much attention.

"Either people telling me I shouldn't have the dog or people wanting to pet him and say how lovely he is and that it's not fair the bully's are getting banned." Josie lives in a caravan with her mum, Debbie Weston, 57. The dog has always been emotionally in tune with Josie and knows to sit on her lap and comfort her when she has emotional breakdowns.

Mars is classed as an auxiliary aid and has the same rights as a guide dog (Daniel Dayment / SWNS)

Mars also picks up her anxiety and can smell her low blood sugar after his extensive 82 hours of training under professional guidance. Mars, the assistance dog, recently attended a four-day training course in Northampton that cost £1000.

Owner Josie is concerned that she may face difficulties taking Mars into shops as she lacks paperwork to prove he's an auxiliary aid. She believes all businesses should have a copy of the assistance dog guide, which explains that owner-trained assistance dogs might not have paperwork. The government's offer of £200 compensation for owners who voluntarily put down their XL Bully does not cover the thousands Josie and her mother have spent on training Mars.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Sasha Nugara