Plans for a Scottish XL Bully safe haven have been blocked in the wake of “grave” concerns from locals and death threats directed at its founder.
The Happas Canine Centre near Dundee in Scotland unveiled plans to open a sanctuary for the breed last year, months after the dogs were banned by the government in England and Wales, but Scotland is soon to follow suit. The sanctuary, named the All Bullie Charity Rescue, has received thousands in donations for renovations, but also massive negative attention from the public.
Kerryanne Shaw, from Glasgow, who owns the rescue centre, initially refused to identify the location, having received “death threats” when the plans were outlined. Officials have now joined in opposing the sanctuary, but for an entirely different reason, with local councillors saying the decision plays on their “conscience”.
Ms Shaw, who relocated to Happas in 2024, raised concerns from local officials, who said they couldn’t “in good conscience” grant her rescue centre a licence. They highlighted concerns that the 38-year-old would be looking after 23 dogs by herself. Why they weren’t all XL Bullies, the council insisted the number was “an awful lot of dogs for one person”.
Their concerns came following inspections of the rescue centre in which councillors noted a “lot of old metal items and rolls of material and rubbish” in the animals’ outdoor enclosure, which they said appeared “structurally insecure” and believed “would not contain the dogs”. They also noticed a “very strong urine smell”.
An inspection at the rescue centre shown to the councillors said there was “a lot of old metal items and rolls of material and rubbish” in the dogs’ outdoor enclosure and a “very strong urine smell”. The enclosure was deemed “structurally insecur” and the inspection office said it “would not contain the dogs” and they could escape.
The inspection report went on: “Some of the dogs have serious kennel guarding issues. The noise in the kennel blocks during the inspection was loud and no signs of ear defenders being made available to visitors. Emergency protocol is to remove all dogs if safe to do so but no procedure in place for dogs that have been highlighted as high risk to some handlers.”
Unanimously rejecting the application, one councillor said: “It really concerns me that there will be one person looking after so many dogs,” while another added: “I’m not content to write a blank cheque on this, especially while our Environmental Health team are still strongly objecting. If after all this time the conditions have not been met, I certainly do not think they are likely to be met soon.” And a another added: “Ultimately, our primary concern is the animals welfare. I can’t in good conscience grant that licence.”
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