Concerned about the dog’s welfare but fearing it could be a trap, Mr and Mrs Baptista decided to call the police rather than intervene themselves.
XL Bully
The police arrived at Oak Lane, near Blidworth in Nottinghamshire, to find the frightened dog tied to a road sign. With no signs of who had abandoned the dog, when or why, the police took custody of the poor pup.
Nottinghamshire Police later confirmed the dog was an XL bully, a breed now subject to strict regulations. Officers are investigating to locate the owner.
New regulations
Since 1 February 2024, it has been illegal to own an XL Bully in England and Wales without an exemption certificate. It is also against the law to abandon, give away, buy, or sell this breed.
This new law came after increased incidents involving the breed, which resulted in XL Bullies being added to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
