XL Bully dog owners have gathered en masse with their dogs and children to prove the breed are “safe” to be around in protest over the Government’s decision to ban the dogs.

Organised by Bully Linkups Fundraiser, the event saw as many as 62 dogs lined up with their owners as seen in footage shared from the event.

The event took place in Calludin Castle Park on Sunday and told owners not to bring “aggressive dogs” or “dogs in season”.

In the footage, several dogs can be seen in harnesses sitting patiently while others can be seen in the back struggling in their leashes.

None of the dogs seen in the video were shown wearing muzzles.

The meeting comes just a month ahead of when the XL Bully ban will be implemented on December 31.

From that date, it will become illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow to stray XL bully dogs in England and Wales.

In addition, the breed must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public with owners forced to add them to a register from the end of January.

XL Bullys will be added to a list of banned dogs under the Dangerous Dog Act from the end of this year, the Government has confirmedPA

It will be illegal to own an XL Bully dog unless registered on the index of exempt dogs from February 1.

After the footage of the dogs went live, social media users criticised the event and were quick to back the ban.

One user wrote: “This video is proof that they need to be get rid off.

“They need body harnesses and not leashes. Even then they’d struggle.”

A stock image of an American Bully XL

Another said: “What happens if just a couple of them start kicking off? Pure mayhem.”

One more wrote: “Not a single one with a muzzle on.

“At least they could do that to help people not to get worried and just incase they do try and bite.”

Bully Linkups Fundraiser, who organised the event and run similar fundraisers across the country, usually ask for a £5 donation to protest against the ban.