An American XL bully dog lover has hit out at “irresponsible owners”—and says her pet is so soft she was attacked by a tiny Jack Russell terrier without defending herself.
Kaylee Hankins, 32, says 16-month-old Isla is loved by locals in the Cotswolds market town of Minchinhampton, UK.
And she said the family pet is adored by sons Harley, 7, and Leo, 14, who cuddle up with her on the sofa every morning.
Describing Isla as an “amazingly loyal family companion,” she told how the gentle dog was pounced on by an off-lead Jack Russell a few months ago.
The tiny terrier rammed into the XL bully at full speed, causing her to tumble to the ground. She apparently cowered down petrified as it barked, and she didn’t retaliate.
Ms. Hankins, a beauty therapist, lashed out at irresponsible owners who “let an amazing breed down” by training them to be aggressive or failing to train them at all.
The government announced last week it would be taking steps to ban American XL bullies.
“I’ve heard of people using growth hormones to get them bigger, cross-breeding them with bigger breeds, and training them to be aggressive because they want the image of a big scary dog,” Ms. Hankins said.
“But they are not scary. They get into the wrong hands; I feel like some owners have let an amazing breed down.
“It’s awful for the victims that suffered in the attacks of XL bullies but, again, these dogs have been improperly trained by careless owners.”
Kaylee said Isla was “very easy to train” and hasn’t ever shown a hint of aggression.
“Harley was home all the time when we got Isla as a puppy,” she said. “They are best friends now.
“As soon as he comes down in the morning, they cuddle up on the sofa together—they are pretty inseparable.
“She comes on the school run every day and is greeted by all sorts of dogs and people of all ages.”
All the neighbors adore her, the dog owner said. Isla has become famous in Minchinhampton, and whenever they see Ms. Hankins without her dog, they ask, “Where’s Isla”?
“We’ve even had people stop their cars and jump out to see her, people we don’t know,” she said. "The postman knocks at the door just to say hello to her, even if he doesn’t have any post for us. Isla loves him.
“Leo often takes Isla out on his own and looks after her all day—he’s good as gold with her.”
Ms. Hankins doesn’t support the government’s proposed ban on XL bully dogs—but says she would support a licensing system.
“I don’t believe banning the breed will work, people will work around the law,” she said. "I’d be happy to get her assessed and get a license.
“I think it’s cruel to class my dog as a dangerous dog when she’s not a dangerous dog.
“You would be putting my dog into the same category as killer dogs—when she’s far from it. She is an amazingly loyal family companion.
“I know quite a few XL bullies; her sister lives about 10 minutes from us.
“I’ve never heard of any incidents around here with them, they are all like Isla, friendly—as she should be.
“If they ban her, she’ll have to wear a muzzle out in public and it will give the impression she’s a dangerous dog when she’s not.”
