January 13th 2024.
Arbaz Hamza Hamid was devastated when his beloved XL Bully dog, Empress, passed away. The poor dog had been sick for some time and required constant care, including two-hourly injections. Despite the odds, Hamid and four others who co-owned the dog agreed to go ahead with surgery, which was recommended by vet Stephen Stead. However, things took a violent turn when the surgery was unsuccessful and Empress passed away.
On January 16, Hamid and the other owners went to Mr. Stead's practice, S T Stead's Vets, to confront him about the dog's death. The situation quickly escalated and one of the owners even punched a wall in anger. Hamid, who was just 24 years old at the time, ended up punching Mr. Stead in the face, causing him to bleed and need stitches. Hamid's lawyer, Rachel Webster, explained that he had acted impulsively out of grief and love for his dog.
However, the court did not accept this defense. The judge, Sean Morris, believed that the real motivation behind Hamid's actions was the loss of a significant investment. XL Bully dogs, which are now a banned breed, were highly sought after and could be sold for large sums of money. The judge also rejected Hamid's claim that Empress was a family pet, as there was evidence that she may have been bought for a much higher price.
Despite Ms. Webster's efforts to portray Hamid as a remorseful and non-violent individual, the judge sentenced him to seven months in jail. Mr. Stead, who had initially said he would drop the charges if Hamid apologized, was disappointed by the lack of remorse shown by the defendant. He also expressed concern that the dog may have been bought for breeding purposes, rather than as a family pet.
The incident involving Hamid and Mr. Stead sheds light on the recent ban on XL Bully dogs in England and Wales. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, announced in September that these dogs would be banned due to a rise in serious attacks on people and other animals. As of January 1, it is now illegal to sell, advertise, rehome, or breed XL Bully dogs. Owners must also have their dogs registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs list and follow strict rules such as muzzling and neutering their pets.
The ban has caused uproar among animal lovers, who argue that XL Bully dogs are being unfairly targeted and euthanized. Last week, a group of animal lovers held a candlelit vigil to honor the dogs who have been affected by the ban. Despite the controversy surrounding the ban, it remains in effect to ensure the safety of both humans and animals.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
