A FLINTSHIRE dog rescue is offering to help XL Bully dog owners on low incomes to access neutering services.

The Leader reported earlier this week on the response to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plans to ban the dogs by the end of the year.

Almost Home Dog Rescue, which has kennels in Nercwys, issued a plea to dog owners following the Prime Minister's announcement, urging the public to "take a breath" and not panic.

The organisation issued the message after "taking calls from bully breed owners of all types regarding the incoming ban," advising that dogs would likely need to be added to a register, wear a muzzle in public, have third party insurance and be them neutered.

Lynn Edge, treasurer and secretary at the rescue, told the Leader the organisation has now secured a £5,000 grant to help dog owners low income households to have their four legged friends neutered.

The neutering will happen at the rescue's vets in Mold and owners will have to sort their own transport, as well as a £50 non refundable deposit to reserve their appointment - with the balance to be paid by Almost Home Dog Rescue.

And Mrs Edge said given the recent announcement by Mr Sunak, a decision has been made to prioritise XL Bullies and other Bully type breeds.

She explained: "There are so many unwanted litters out there and more dogs than any rescue can handle at the moment - the pounds are overflowing.

"We thought maybe we can help people who can't afford to have their dogs neutered, and the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust gave us this grant in the middle of last week.

"With this announcement over the XL Bullies, we don't yet know what the requirements will be - but speculation has included neutering, muzzling and public liability insurance.

"These are big dogs so they are expensive to have neutered, and they're not an exact breed so they'd likely need to have some kind of DNA work done to be identified.

"We have prioritised XL Bullies for now because that's how things have moved on, but if funds allow we will try to roll this out to other breeds in low income households."

Speaking of the public response and her views on the proposed ban, Mrs Edge said: "We did put the post out on our Facebook telling people not to panic and not to dump their dogs.

"We need to wait until we know what needs to be done, and it's too early to know that yet so people are nervous.

"We heard from one person who isn't even walking their dog now because they fear a member of the public will step in and take things into their own hands, or that the police will just seize the dog - that's how worried people are.

"As a rule, most of them are lovely, gentle dogs with a beautiful temperament.

"Sadly, some aren't - and that's probably because of what people have trained them into, or bred into some of them.

"As a rescue, we don't agree with the ban."

She urged people not to judge the dogs prematurely.

Email info@almosthome.dog for additional info and to speak to the team in more detail about neutering.