A DOG owner has hit back following the announcement that his dog belongs to a breed which could soon be banned.
Michael Amos, 45, from Heddon-on-the-Wall, says that he does not regret rescuing his now two-year-old American Bully XL from Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter, despite the growing controversy over the breed.
Michael rescued his dog Flôki when he was six months old and says that he is still as in love with him as he was when he first saw him.
Michael said."I loved him from the first moment I saw him in the shelter.
"He was very friendly but had been through some bad times as he had cigarette burns all over him."
Michael, like many owners who own 'dangerous dogs', is trying to fight the stigma attached to them, especially after the recent announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that they are to be banned in the UK by the end of the year.
This came after the BBC reported that a man in England died following what Mr Sunak described as 'another suspected XL bully attack' on Thursday and was the latest in a series of attack incidents.
According to the BBC, Mr Sunak said he had ordered work to legally define the breed behind the recent attacks so it can be banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, which applies in England, Wales and Scotland.
If a dog belongs to a breed which is banned, police or local council dog wardens can take away the dog and keep it, even if it is not acting dangerously and no complaint has been made.
After Mr Sunak's announcement, owners like Michael have felt the need to stand up for their dogs.
Michael said: "People cross the roads when I am walking my dog, despite being on his lead and in my control.
"They shake their heads at when they see what breed he is, but he is harmless.
"My daughter has one, my niece and other family members and they are a part of the family.
"They are ridiculously powerful, I do admit, and it can be sometimes like walking a medium-sized bear - but he is a big softie.
"Whenever he is out on a walk, he always wants to play with other dogs but the smaller ones probably get intimidated by his size and bark at him, so of course he barks back, which must sound really terrifying to them and their owners.
"But I believe that it isn't the dog's fault but the breeder's fault for training them to be aggressive.
"All dogs can bite or be aggressive if they are cornered, they just need the right training."
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