A grandmother named Josephine Fitzpatrick rescued an XL Bully just a year ago when she found the dog walking alone and in poor condition on the sand dunes in Formby, Merseyside. She took the six-week-old puppy home and nursed it back to health. However, the 41-year-old failed to declare the dog when new laws were introduced prohibiting the breed and requiring owners to register their XL Bullies with a Certificate of Exemption from the police. Despite having rescued Bleu, the dog, and giving it a good life, Fitzpatrick was found to be in violation of the law when the dog was discovered at her home just over two weeks after the rule change.
Following the police’s discovery, Bleu was seized and placed in kennels, and Fitzpatrick was charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act for possessing a fighting dog. During the court case, it was revealed that Fitzpatrick, who relies on state benefits and receives only £300 per month, could not afford to register Bleu for exemption to the bill, leading to the destruction order for the dog. The court heard how another dog owned by Fitzpatrick, a Lurcher named Percie, escaped during the police raid and was struck by a car, resulting in the dog having to be put down.
Fitzpatrick’s lawyer, Marcella Salter, acknowledged that Fitzpatrick should have followed the government’s requirements and registered the dog with a vet, but cited financial constraints as the reason for not doing so. Fitzpatrick expressed remorse for her actions and pleaded guilty to possessing a fighting dog. It was revealed in court that Bleu had exhibited signs of aggressive behavior while in remand, which Salter attributed to stress caused by the circumstances surrounding the dog. Fitzpatrick was conditionally discharged for 12 months but faced challenges paying the £614 kennel costs ordered by Merseyside Police due to her financial situation.
The case of Josephine Fitzpatrick’s XL Bully is the first known instance in the UK of a person being prosecuted for owning an unregistered XL Bully under the new laws. Patrick McKeown from Tarring, West Sussex, also faced a similar fate with his dog being ordered to be destroyed. Both cases highlight the consequences of not following the regulations set forth by the government regarding dangerous dog breeds. Fitzpatrick’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to laws and regulations surrounding pet ownership, regardless of financial constraints, to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The circumstances surrounding Bleu, the XL Bully, and the ensuing legal battle shed light on the complexities and challenges faced by pet owners in complying with animal welfare laws.
