Woman fined for keeping XL bully at home

A woman has been fined for owning a banned XL bully, with a court still to decide the dog's fate.

Samantha Link, 37, was sentenced at Doncaster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after having earlier pleaded guilty to possessing or having custody of a fighting dog.

The animal, called Chunkz, was removed from Link's home on Park Drive in Sprotbrough in March after a member of the public reported it.

Link was fined £120 by the court and ordered to pay £1,350 in compensation and £85 in costs.

Link is listed on Companies House as the director of a weight-loss clinic registered to her home address, but she asked the court if her fine could be deducted from her benefits payments.

What is known as a contingent destruction order was issued for the dog, who is still in police kennels.

Contingent destruction orders stipulate that a dog must be kept under proper control or it will be humanely put to sleep.

Magistrates can specify measures such as muzzling, neutering, or a requirement for it to be kept on a lead in public places.

South Yorkshire Police said the dog was not believed to have been involved in any incidents of concern before it was seized following a "third party" report.

Another dog was removed from Link's custody, but was returned to her after an assessment of its breed.

A police spokesperson said: "The dog is still in police kennels and is being processed following the legal process. It will go home upon direction of the court.

"Officers seized another dog, which was returned as it was not an XL bully."

The Dangerous Dogs Act was updated in December 2023 and now requires owners of XL bullies to keep their pets on a lead and muzzled when in public.

Since 1 February it has been illegal to own an unregistered XL bully, while selling, breeding, exchanging, advertising and gifting the dogs was also banned.