Owners of XL Bully dogs in North Yorkshire say they feel vilified
The Government is meeting today to discuss restrictions on the breed following a number of attacks
There's calls for the proposed ban of the XL bully dog to be redacted with owners across North Yorkshire defending the breed.
MPs will discuss the issues around implementing and enforcing the ban today.
The Government made the announcement after a number of recent dog attacks involving the breed.
Nicola, from Harrogate, tells us more about her XL Bully puppy Dre:
"He's a big softie as you can see, loves kids, loves other dogs, loves people. We've had him since he was eight weeks old, we knew he was going to be a big so we were really persistent with training from day one. He isn't always the most obedient, he is a boy, but his training is going really well."
"We've got 7 children between us both, right from eight years old to 20 so, they are all over him he's absolutely fine."
"I personally think he wouldn't do anything, we've had him in lots of different situations around people and animals and he's never done anything to make us think he would do anything."
She tells us what the last few weeks have been like following a number of attacks by the breed elsewhere in the Country: "We've been more nervous than other people, it's a very anxious time, I almost feel like they are a walking death sentence, if they look at any one funny, because every has been told that they are these big, terrifying dangerous dogs, people are more wary, We used to take him to the school gates to pick my daughter up, but we don't do that anyone because understandably parents will be really afraid, we don't want to intimidate anyone."
"Even things that they have been saying, do people look at me like I'm a drug dealer or a gangster rapper, I'm just a Mum and wife with children and a very loving pet."