![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/xl-bully-protest-controversial-walk-kicks-off-in-birmingham-with-police-presence/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/0_THP_CHP_300923Slug_1422JPG.jpg&description=The Birmingham protest was arranged by dog owners who said they wanted to show XL Bullies are 'gentle'. West Midlands Police said officers will be present this afternoon A controversial mass XL Bully protest walk is about to take place in Birmingham, with organisers saying they want to show how "gentle" the breed is. Police said there will be officers at the scene in Handsworth Park after the protest was allowed to go ahead following two U-turns. At first, the meet faced an online backlash with people saying it was "dangerous and extremely irresponsible" to organise such an event. However, it was later decided that XL Bullies aged under six months could be walked as part of the protest. It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the breed would be banned by the end of the year. Follow our live blog for all the latest updates... Police are at the scene of the XL Bully dog walk. PCs, officers on bikes and the dog handler unit have been drafted in. Asked whether now was the best time for a gathering of XL Bully owners, Mr Harris said: "Because of social media and the platform it's reached now, there's no turning back on it - I'll be totally honest. I'm probably one of the only people that's managed to get somewhere with this kind of thing." Explaining how the walk was organised, he said: "This has been planned for about two, three months. It wasn't meant to be some big walk that has now blown all over the social media. This was literally just a few mates coming together to have a little Bully meet." Asked whether the response to the event had been positive or negative, he admitted it had been a "mix of both". Organiser Jake Harris said dogs aged under six months would be allowed to take part at the gathering in Birmingham on September 30, which he hopes will not be sabotaged by misleading photos on social media. He said he initially wanted to see as many children and families as possible at the event, aimed at XL Bully owners and their pets in protest to){kind=link}
The Birmingham protest was arranged by dog owners who said they wanted to show XL Bullies are ‘gentle’. West Midlands Police said officers will be present this afternoon
A controversial mass XL Bully protest walk is about to take place in Birmingham, with organisers saying they want to show how “gentle” the breed is.
Police said there will be officers at the scene in Handsworth Park after the protest was allowed to go ahead following two U-turns. At first, the meet faced an online backlash with people saying it was “dangerous and extremely irresponsible” to organise such an event.
However, it was later decided that XL Bullies aged under six months could be walked as part of the protest. It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the breed would be banned by the end of the year.
Follow our live blog for all the latest updates…