‘My XL Bully is so soft she was attacked by a tiny Jack Russell – and she cuddles up with me every day… it’s irresponsible owners who are the problem’

• Kaylee Hankins, 32, says her American Bully XL  was attacked by a Jack Russell
• The beauty therapist says irresponsible owners are to blame for bad behaviour 

An American Bully XL owner is claiming irresponsible owners are to blame for the bad behaviour of the controversial dogs – saying her own pet is so gentle she was once set upon by a tiny Jack Russell.

Beauty therapist Kaylee Hankins, 32, says her 16-month-old American Bully XL Isla is adored by her two sons – seven-year-old Harley and Leo, 14 – and loved by villagers in the Cotswolds market town of Minchinhampton where she lives.

She says her pet is an ‘amazing loyal family companion,’ who cuddles up with her on the sofa every morning – and that her dog is so harmless it was left cowering after being pounced upon by an off-lead Jack Russell.

The incident saw the tiny terrier smash into the XL bully at full speed, causing her to tumble to the ground, where she lay cowering and petrified as the Jack Russel barked at her.

Now, Ms Hankins has hit out at the irresponsible owners, who ‘let an amazing breed down’ by training them to be aggressive or failing to train them at all – as she spoke out about the UK government plans to ban the animals. 

Beauty therapist Kaylee Hankins, 32, (pictured) has said irresponsible owners are to blame for the bad behaviour of the animals

The beauty therapist (pictured) says her 16-month-old American Bully XL Isla cuddles up with her on the sofa

‘I’ve heard of people using growth hormones to get them bigger, cross-breeding them with bigger breeds and training them to be aggressive because they want the image of a big scary dog,’ the beauty therapist said.

‘But they are not scary. They get into the wrong hands. I feel like some owners have let an amazing breed down.

‘It’s awful for the victims that suffered in the attacks of XL bullys, but again, these dogs have been improperly trained by careless owners.’

Ms Hankins said Isla was ‘very easy to train’ and hasn’t ever shown a hint of aggression.

She said: ‘Harley was home all the time when we got Isla as a puppy. They are best friends now.

‘As soon as he comes down in the morning, they cuddle up on the sofa together – they are pretty inseparable.

‘She comes on the school run every day and is greeted by all sorts of dogs and people of all ages.

She says her American Bully XL Isla is adored by her two sons – seven-year-old Harley (pictured) and Leo. 14

The beauty therapist says her American Bully XL is so harmless it was once attacked by a Jack Russell

‘Everyone around here adores her – she’s like the famous dog of Minchinhampton. If I’ve not got her with me, they all ask where she is.

‘We’ve even had people stop their cars and jump out to see her, people we don’t know.

‘The postman knocks at the door just to say hello to her, even if he doesn’t have any post for us. Isla loves him.

‘Leo often takes Isla out on his own and looks after her all day – he’s good as gold with her.’

Ms Hankins doesn’t support the British government’s proposed ban on XL bully dogs – but says she would support a licencing system.

She said: ‘I don’t believe banning the breed will work, people will work around the law. I’d be happy to get her assessed and get a licence.

The32-year-old spoke out against the government’s plans to ban American Bully XL dogs

The beauty therapist said she would be in favour of licensing rules for American Bully XLs

‘I think it’s cruel to class my dog as a dangerous dog when she’s not a dangerous dog.

‘You would be putting my dog into the same category as killer dogs – when she’s far from it. She is an amazingly loyal family companion.

‘I know quite a few XL bullys; her sister lives about ten minutes from us. My partner’s brother has one too.

‘I’ve never heard of any incidents around here with them, they are all like Isla, friendly – as she should be.

‘If they ban her, she’ll have to wear a muzzle out in public and it will give the impression she’s a dangerous dog when she’s not.’

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