Desperate XL Bully owners are giving away their dogs for free before the breed is banned. More than 700 American bullies - which the XL falls under - are up for sale online,

Websites such as Gumtree and Pets4Homes have adverts from owners wanting to sell their dogs and some are even giving them away for free. The breed fetched up to £5,000 before the Government said it would be banned from February 1.

The ban follows a string of deaths and injuries caused by the breed. This included Aston Villa fan Ian Price, 52, who was mauled to death by two of the dogs in Stonnall, near Walsall, in September.

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One ad on Pets4Homes asked £10 for a nine-month XL Bully in Bristol, The Mirror reports. They added: "He is going for FREE in the hope we can find him a new forever loving home as opposed to being put down due to this horrible ban."

The same site had an ad for a £75 six-month-old XL in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. It added: "We are not looking for any money...just the perfect home." Gumtree listed more than 50 XL Bullies with some owners "open for offers".

A breeder in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, offered 12 puppies for £450 due to "this stupid ban". The owner of a dog selling for £100 in Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, said: "It’d be a shame to have him put down."

XL Bully owners have also posted on Facebook. A woman in Northumberland wrote: "I ain’t asking for any money just a good loving home."

Another post said: "Need a loving home for American Bully XL. Not asking for money." Experts have warned the dogs could end up in the wrong hands as people rush to get rid of their pets.

The Kennel Club’s Ed Hayes said the situation was due to 'the inadvisably short time frame given to comply with the legislation'. Only those with a certificate of exemption, who comply with strict conditions, avoid the ban.

Owners who put dogs down due to the law can claim £200 compensation. Dr Hayes added: "There will be those desperate to ensure dogs are in the right homes and those not interested in the law."

Dogs Trust said the 'panicked sale of puppies was a predictable consequence of this ban'. Gumtree said it has strict pet posting policies and the ban 'will be enforced by our safety team'.

Pets4Homes said XL Bullys on their site cannot be sold for less than £200 and that they had either removed or changed adverts once we alerted them.

Facebook owner Meta said: "We do not allow the sale of animals on our platforms and remove this content as soon as we become aware of it."