XL Bully owners held a ‘heartwarming’ candlelit vigil for the dogs ‘who didn’t make it’ as Rishi Sunak’s clampdown on the breed came into force.
The ‘sombre’ vigil, held in Pencester Gardens in Dover, was attended by approximately 40 people on New Year’s Day for the dogs that had been put to sleep.
Under the Government’s guidelines, some 240 XL Bully dogs in rescue homes were set to be destroyed until a last minute injunction temporarily saved their lives.
However, it is understood some dogs were put down anyway.
The vigil featured portraits of the fallen XL Bully dogs and an image of Rishi Sunak with bloody hands which were surrounded by flowers and candles, as seen in a video posted to TikTok.
The TikTok included captions, such as ‘fly high angels’ and ‘shame on you Sunak’, and was accompanied by a mournful reedition of In the Arms of An Angel by Pink Lady Mode.
The vigil in Dover for the XL Bully dogs ‘who didn’t make it’
A woman lays down a rose at the candlelit vigil
The edited image of Rishi Sunak with bloody hands beside a portrait of one of the fallen XL Bully dogs
The description of the TikTok read: ‘We held a vigil in Dover last night to remember all those (XL Bully dogs) who didn’t make it. This government has blood on its hand’s, injunction or not!’
XL Bully vigil organiser Lee Sansum, 38, told KentOnline it was a ‘sombre and respectful’ event.
He said: ‘There was a lot of disbelief – we were stood there mourning the death of dogs who didn’t need to die.
‘But it was heartwarming to feel that we have some support from the public – that it’s not just us bully owners in this fight.
‘Thankfully, in this area we’ve had no reports of dogs who have been put down, but there are dozens of dogs across the UK that have been put to sleep.’
Under the new laws which came into effect on New Year’s Eve, it is illegal to breed, sell and rehome an XL Bully-type dog and they must be muzzled and kept on lead while in public.
Some owners shared photographs of their animals in their new muzzles, though some say their pets are ‘ripping them off’ and refusing to wear them.
However, others were still trying to rehome their animals yesterday, either appearing to think the law is not yet in effect or openly expressing their contempt for the legislation.
A man lights a candle at the XL Bully vigil
Two of the XL Bully dogs that were put down despite the last minute injunction that could have saved their lives
The vigil featured portraits of the fallen XL Bully dogs and an image of Rishi Sunak with bloody hands which were surrounded by flowers and candles
It comes as some vets are refusing to put down XL Bully dogs despite new laws that will see a crackdown on the big powerful dogs.
By the start of February it will become a criminal offence to own an XL Bully in England and Wales without a certificate of exemption.
Dog lovers have been urged to apply for an exemption by the deadline of January 31 or face putting their beloved pets down – but multiple vets are refusing to euthanise the animals.
The Government is offering Bully XL owners £200 compensation to owners who do not wish to signs up to its scheme to have the dog euthanised, but vets are saying they will not do this.