OVER 100 people have answered a Flintshire animal shelter's call to find homes for a litter of what is suspected to be XL bully puppies that were found abandoned.

North Clwyd Animal Rescue (NCAR), based at Holywell, launched an appeal after four puppies were found abandoned in the St Asaph area during the early hours of Boxing Day. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

The pups, comprising three males and one female, are believed to be around eight weeks old and, following an incredible expression of interest, there are now only two of them left to adopt.

NCAR said that 'due to their looks, size and the fact they have been dumped this close to the impending ban', they suspect these pups are XL Bully type.

From December 31, activities such as breeding, selling, advertising, rehoming, abandoning, and allowing an XL Bully dog to stray will become illegal. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

Starting in February 2024, owning an XL Bully dog will be illegal unless registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

NCAR added: "Two of them are hopefully safe but we need homes for the other two to go to.

"It's tricky when it comes to puppies that we have no background on anyway, but especially in these current circumstances."

TOP STORIES 

The charity has since confirmed however that they have had over 100 offers from people to give the puppies a new forever home, forcing them to close the application process.

‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​NCAR said: “Time is crucial for these puppies, as homes need to be arranged by 31 December. We’re under immense pressure to make the right choices for them and will thoroughly review all applications to find the best matches.” ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

This month the Leader spoke to NCAR who told us of their devastation at the plight of XL Bully dogs and their owners as the UK Government ban creeps closer.

Nicky Owen, media fundraising manager for the charity, made an impassioned plea in recent weeks to find forever homes for four of the dogs of that breed accommodated at the charity.

Ms Owen also said that, while NCAR is now no longer able to accept XL Bullies from people, she expects the charity will nevertheless end up in a difficult situation with unwanted dogs.