DOGS and their owners gathered in Dunfermline's Pittencrieff Park on Saturday for a 'Big Bully Walk' to make a stand in the face of the recent ban.

The meet-up saw a group of nine XL Bully dog owners gather with their pets, which were all on leads and muzzled in public places.

Sammy Dowie, who lives in Rosyth with her husband, son, and XL Bully Bo, previously told the Press about how the "unfair" ban will affect the nine-month-old puppy's life. 

She attended the walk, and said it went "really well".

Sammy added: "All the dogs were well-behaved and the locals were up, even bringing their kids up to give them claps.

"We went on a walk with them and it was good to meet other owners to get the general advice, as well as the dogs."

While they were small in number, Sammy believes the walk served its purpose. 

She said: "For us, the whole purpose of the meet and greet was to show everybody that they’re not scary. We shouldn't have to hide them away. I didn’t understand why they did that (the ban).

"Let them see them, let them see that they're not scary. There's too much bad press about XL Bully dogs and people make judgements when they’ve not even educated themselves."

Sammy said she and other owners won't stop fighting to change the public's perception of the pets she describes as loving dogs, adding: "All they want is love and attention.

"As long as they’re getting a cuddle - or getting to even just sit beside you - they're happy."

Sammy also has plans on holding her own Big Bully Walk in The Glen on Saturday, April 20. 

She told the Press: "I want to show the public just how friendly and loving these dogs are. Let the dogs come together and do a walk, let the public come and see them, clap them and walk with us if they like.  I plan on doing this quite regularly."

And her end goal? To see conditions bettered for her much-loved family pet. 

Under the first stage of the ban, introduced earlier this year, all XL Bullies must always be muzzled and kept on a lead in public. It is also an offence to breed, exchange, sell, offer, advertise, or abandon these dogs.

And from August, it will be illegal to own one of these dogs in Scotland without an exemption certificate or having applied for one to own the animal.

However, Sammy said: "I would like the muzzles to go. There's no need for them. I don’t understand muzzles and leads, if they’re on a lead then they’re not getting away and they’re not going to be able to do anything - as long as you’re a responsible owner.  

"I would like Bo to be able to run free like the rest of the dogs."

To follow along with Bo and Sammy's Big Bully Walks, follow Bo on TikTok @xl.bully.bo