Dog walker is hounded by park when locals mistake her French mastiff for an XL Bully
- Walkers have also been avoiding her at her local park in Syston, Leicestershire
A dog walker was hounded in her local park after a fellow walker mistook her French Mastiff pet Hooch for an XL Bully.
Emmaline Jacques, 34, had been exercising her dog called Hooch when a woman shouted ‘you better make sure your XL bully doesn’t f***ing bite anyone’.
As well as the verbal attack, which took place in Memorial Park, Syston, Leicestershire, Ms Jacques has said a number of walkers have dragged their dogs out the way because they believed Hooch was an XL Bully.
She now says that she feels forced to avoid [;aces where fellow dog walkers might be as a result of the incident.
Ms Jacques said: ‘I took him for a walk in one of the local parks near where I live and there was a group of dog walkers. Then this one lady shouted ‘You better make sure your XL Bully doesn’t f***ing bite anyone’.
Emmaline Jacques, 34, had been exercising her French Mastiff dog called Hooch when a woman shouted ‘you better make sure your XL bully doesn’t f***ing bite anyone’
The woman said a number of dogs in Memorial Park, Syston, Leicestershire, have been avoiding her and her pooch
‘It made me not want to go out walking and it was quite horrible to be honest. I have had people drag their dogs away before that. I have had someone shout abuse when I walked past.
READ HERE: Nine out of 10 say XL Bully dogs should be banned as toddler nearly loses his leg and 54-year-old is killed in latest attacks
‘It did not stop me going out on walks, I wanted to take him out and socialise with people, but I was avoiding people and taking him where people weren’t walking.’
Another added: ‘This is so sad. I’ve even had it this weekend with my Frenchie. People are so ignorant. It’s rubbish owners that need banning.’
The American XL Bully breed has hit the headlines in recent weeks after a number of deaths as a result of attacks by the breed. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been especially vocal on the issue, pledging that the government will ban owning XL Bullys.
But Mrs Jacques believes the responsibility relies with the owner and not the breed. She added: ‘Dogs behave how their owners have raised them.. If people don’t raise their dogs and train them then it’s definitely on the owners not the dogs.
‘That’s what I think the problem is with these dogs, they have just been bought because it is the latest trend. It is not fair for people to judge when it is a small minority who are not raising their dogs properly.’
The Government has said it will ban XL Bullies by the end of the year (file image)
There are several dog characteristics that could mean a breed is included under the new ban, including if your dog has a muscular build, weighs over 20kgs, with a wide skull and jaw, muscular neck or convex cheeks
Mrs Jacques, who works at a snooker club in Syston, told LeicestershireLive that the support she received on Facebook has made her feel more confident when taking Hooch out and about.
She added that Hooch has even become a bit of a local celebrity, with people coming up to say hello frequently.
‘To be honest I thought it would be family and friends, I was not expecting that response at all. To have that support from the community, it was lovely and fantastic,’ she added.
‘It’s made me feel a lot more supported and confident going out. More people are coming up to me and recognising Hooch. It is helping actually as he is only a puppy, it is making it a lot better.
‘It’s a small town and maybe they have seen him on Facebook.. He has become quite famous.
‘He is a lovely good dog and loves talking to people. He is a big baby and he loves a lot of fuss. We have two children at home and he is a brilliant family dog.’
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