{"id":70303,"date":"2023-11-14T20:53:16","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T20:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geels.net\/?p=70303"},"modified":"2023-11-14T20:53:16","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T20:53:16","slug":"gemma-atkinson-speaks-out-about-xl-bully-ban-in-heartfelt-plea-to-her-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geels.net\/beauty\/gemma-atkinson-speaks-out-about-xl-bully-ban-in-heartfelt-plea-to-her-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"Gemma Atkinson speaks out about XL Bully ban in heartfelt plea to her fans"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Gemma Atkinson took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a photograph of herself and her sister\u2019s dog, Jackson, as she issued a heartfelt plea to her followers.<\/p>\n

The actress, who owns two dogs herself, spoke out after it was confirmed that it will be illegal to own an XL Bully from February next year unless it is registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.<\/p>\n

In a lengthy caption, the former Emmerdale star, 38, said: \u201cKnowing im a dog lover & the charity work I do with dogs, Lots of ppl have asked my opinion about the XL bully ban\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Jackson. He was a sharpie bull mastiff cross and for 14 years lived with my sister and her 3 children showing them nothing but love & loyalty. Muscular and large, he was always referred to as the gentle giant.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard recently that the government is offering \u00a3200 compensation for families to have their bull breed euthanised. The attacks some of these dogs have done to humans is horrendous. I cannot think of anything worse than whitenessing such horrors and my heart goes out to the families who have suffered.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Gemma Atkinson shares ‘worst fear as a parent’ as she navigates bullying risks<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg>View this post on Instagram<\/p>\n

A post shared by Gemma Atkinson (@glouiseatkinson)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI always say a dog, just like a human is a product of its environment & regardless of breed & size they can all be taught to attack & all turn when they feel threatened. My mate was attacked by a corgi on his paper round when we were kids. All a dog wants to do is please it\u2019s owner. Even the owners that aren\u2019t responsible enough to have them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll use Manchester as an example because I\u2019m from there. If you take our wonderful city and & over the course of the next month 9 people from Manchester commit awful crimes they absolutely should be punished. 100%! It doesn\u2019t mean though that all the other Mancunians should be punished with them. It\u2019 doesn\u2019t mean every Mancunian is the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe media has portrayed this breed badly for ages. It used to be Dobermans then Rottweilers but never their humans. Why? Something has to be done to stop these attacks. Lots of dog trainers & experts believe there are ways to tackle the issue which doesn\u2019t involve simply just destroying all current bull breeds who live in loving family\u2019s across the UK…<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking at it as a mother, would I leave my kids with them? No. But I wouldn\u2019t leave them with any breed. Not just bully\u2019s. I don\u2019t even leave them alone with Norman & Ollie because regardless of size or breed, you never know and part of being a responsible owner is never taking that chance.\u201d (sic)<\/p>\n

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Gemma then invited her followers to share their thoughts in the comments.<\/p>\n

One user wrote: \u201cI\u2019ve been attacked by dogs 4 times and all 4 times the dogs have been Jack Russell\u2019s. I fully agree that it is dog owners\/environment and not an individual breed that is the issue. Dog licenses and mandatory training to own a dog should be brought in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another said: \u201cNo such thing as a bad breed just bad owners. All dogs can bite if not trained and loved properly . I\u2019m finding this ban another knee jerk reaction and very saddening.\u201d<\/p>\n

And a third said: \u201cI think it is utterly heartbreaking and a completely barbaric decision when ALL breeds have the ability to attack. The issue is that these breeds are attractive to the wrong people because of how they look.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt won’t stop at XL Bullys. It will then be Cane Corsos, Rottweilers, Dobermans. My heart aches so much for those people who have loving family pets.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat NEEDS to happen, is stricter rules and regulations around pet ownership and those people who abuse dogs for status, get the law thrown at them. I actually can not believe this law has been passed. My heart hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n