Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Kerryanne still intends to set up her Angus XL Bully dog sanctuary
THE campaigner behind plans for an XL Bully sanctuary in Angus says the effort of bringing her plan to reality has taken its toll.
Kerryanne Shaw remains determined to set up the facility between Forfar and Dundee. But she still requires a licence from the council to operate it. That will not be issued until at least the end of next month.
And the Glasgow-based dog-lover is trying to take a step back after being left ‘exhausted’ by the effort of getting Happas Canine Centre kennels ready.
She is devoting her time to the care of one of one of her own pets, which is terminally ill.
“I’ve been trying to take a break from it all as it’s been exhausting,” said Kerryanne. “I currently have one of my own dogs with terminal cancer.”
However, she remains committed to setting up the Angus sanctuary, close to the A90 dual carriageway.
She will rent the kennels and house now-outlawed XL Bullies there.
Last week the first part of restrictions on American XL Bully-type dogs came into force in Scotland.
It is now illegal to have an XL Bully in public without a muzzle or lead.
You also cannot breed, sell, abandon or give away an XL Bully.
From July 31, owners will require an exemption certificate, or have applied for one, to keep their dog.
Kerryanne says: “We have two XLs who we plan to take (to Angus) through exemption,” she said.
One of those is already at Happas under the care of the kennel owners.
“The other will move when I move on site,” added Kerryanne.
Through the sanctuary she hopes to rehome other bulldog-type breeds not subject to controls.
Kerryanne said she plans to stage an open day at Happas once the facility is up and running.
The plan has generated a huge amount of comment from both sides of the dangerous dogs debate.
But Kerryanne says it has not led to an increase in people asking her to take on dogs.