A MAN transported around 30 XL bullies to Scotland before a ban on the breed came into force in England and Wales.
Last year, the UK Government promised to place new restrictions on the breed after a series of fatal attacks on humans.
On December 31, it became illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange or abandon XL bullies in England and Wales.
Those already in possession of an XL bully have until February to apply for an exemption allowing them to keep their dog.
However, they will then be legally required to keep them muzzled and on a lead when in public.
Any XL bullies left in rescue centres or kennels in England and Wales by January 1 were to be euthanised.
It has lead to some people rushing XL bullies with no permanent home or owner to Scotland in order to avoid such a fate.
Sammy Wilkinson from the West Midlands repeatedly drove more than 200 miles to Scotland, collecting groups of XL bullies on the journey.
According to a GoFundMe page set up to support the pursuit, Wilkinson has transported around 30 dogs to Scotland so far.
He said on social media just a few hours before the ban came into place:
"I'm absolutely exhausted and my car is falling apart but you're not killing these Rishi Sunak, now it's a race to the Scottish Border before midnight".
The fundraiser has so far raised more than £10,000.
It is unclear where the dogs are being taken. However, Bedlay Garden dog home in North Lanarkshire said on social media that it had successfully applied for a rehoming licence specifically to help XL bullies.
A post on Facebook said: “We have rescued a great number of these dogs from shelters, pounds and veterinary clinics from all over the UK over the last few weeks, saving them from being PTS [put to sleep] because of this horrible legislation.
“With us being a private boarding facility, we obtained a rehoming license puposely so that we could responsibility help as many of dogs as we could within the time frame.
“The dogs are now safe with responsibile, capable owners or are still with us and looking for their forever homes.”
According to research from Bully Watch – a campaign formed in response to increasing attacks by XL bullies on humans – 11 people have been killed in the UK by the breed since 2021.
The Scottish Government has previously said it is "carefully considering the evidence as to whether changes to ban the XL bully dogs and breed will be applied in Scotland.”
