After losing my German Shepherd to cancer, being involved in a serious car crash and going through an awful relationship breakdown, I hit rock bottom. I no longer wanted to be here. I felt as though I had nothing. My mental health was at an all time low. People around me were trying to talk me in to rescuing another dog, stating that if I could give it half the love that I gave to Gunner, a dog would still have a good loving home. I felt riddled with guilt and as though Id be betraying Gunner and I didnt want to feel the heartbreak of losing another dog. Thats when the now named Sula came along. A malnurished puppy who had been rescued from a London home from apalling conditions. I had no knowledge of her background but she was placed in my arms by my now ex partner and the second she settled in my arms I knew that she was mine. I dont want to divuldge the full deatils but over the coming months this dog geneuinely saved my life. I needed Sula and Sula needed me. I took her to the vets who advised me that she was a mastiff crossed with a staffordshire bull terrier and registered her as that. I researched diets, built her back up to full health, spent hours training her to a good level, have provided her with better care than any dog could hope for and showered her with love. This dog is a pampered princess. Wherever I go, she goes. Shes my rock.

Some months later a friend reached out to me to ask if I had space for another dog as a friend of theirs knew of a dog that was also a staffy cross who needed a home. Welcome Ted. Ted was in a home where there was domestic violence and the female was looking to escape and wasn’t in the posoution to take the dog with her. She had children who needed to be her focus but the dog couldnt be left behind either. I took Ted in and raised money to have him neutered, microchipped, and to buy him everything he would need, including a specialised diet. My intention was to foster him and search for his forever home but I fell in love with him over the following weeks and Sula bonded with him almost instantly. They would play together all day, cuddle up on the sofa togther and in the morning the first thing she would do is run downstairs to look for her Ted Ted who I was crate training. Ted stayed and everybody around us commented on how much better he looked over the coming months and how much more trust he was learning to place in humans again.

On Friday 2nd August, whilst I was working away for a couple of days, I was woken to calls and mesages from my landlady who made me aware that my house was surrounded by armed police and that there was a dog handler dragging my dogs from their home. Despite their home being invaded by 19 police officers, they walked calmly with the handler, not showing a single ounce of aggression. Thinking about how scared they must have been breaks me. These are two loving innocent dogs who dont understand what is happening or why their mum hasnt come to collect them. The police had a warrant for the arrest of a guy who I had been dating and to search my property for illegal items, since they knew that he would sleep there at night. During this the dog handler saw my dogs and felt that they could be of XL bully type and, despite the vets and their paperwork advising otherwise, the police are stating that just because they look a particular way they cant come home. Theyve clearly said they are beautiful natured and clearly very well cared for. Despite this they are now both locked away in kennels, their needs not being met, Im not allowed to know where they are and I cant visit. My mental health has plummeted, Im sick with anxiety and worry. I need my babies home and they need me.

I have to go in for questioning on Friday, otherwise I will be arrested. Theyve seized them under section 1 Dangerous Dogs Act and Im currently awaiting court papers to fight to bring them home. Ive made contact with a legal team called Four Legs Law who will be representing me and my babies, am awaiting a call back from a dog expert who I will need to pay privately to assess them for XL bully type and from that I will know whether to plead gulity or not. I have been advised it could cost £1500-2000 per dog for the assestment with a renowned expert called Mike Barnett. The cost of the solicitors is £1500 for a guilty plea and £3000 for a not guilty plea. If Mike agrees that they are XL bully type I have no choice but to plead guilty, face the charges and fight for them to come home under conditions. First Ill need to convince the courts that theyre both good natured dogs with no threat to the public and that I am a responsible dog owner. As part of this I need character references from people who know me and the pups. If Mike disagrees with the police and says theyre not of XL bully type then Ill plead not guilty and the case will go to trial. Should I win theyll be released as free dogs. Should I lose, again, I need to convince the court of their good nature and my responsible character. Each court date, Ill need to pay for a barrister too which is around £300 per visit.

As you can imagine Im broken. Any support whether it be a financial donation to the court costs, a written character reference or a follow and share on social media would be much appreciated. Instagram @sulaandted.

Thank you and love