A DORSET-based dog group has said it will hold an XL Bully dog meet-up to fight 'discriminative' laws against the breed. 

Dog Friendly Dorset has announced it will host an XL Bully meetup on June 1 in the Southbourne area.

The group are keen to fight recent laws made by the government to make it illegal to sell, give away, breed or walk an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.

Founder of Dog Friendly Dorset (DFD), Nicky Crowe, said she is 'shocked' by how one breed can be discriminated against. 

She told the Daily Echo: "We've had a bully play-date for six years and it's been shocking what's happened and how one breed can be discriminated against. 

"We want to show our support to the bullies on the group because we do feel people have been unsure if they can post a picture of their bully because they're getting a lot of abuse.

"It's become isolating when you have a breed that has a bad reputation rightly or wrongly."

With 24,000 members on its Facebook group, Nicky stated the group tries to support all of its members and their dogs in whatever ways possible. 

Believing this is one of many witch hunts of a certain breed that has happened, Nicky stated the group tries to mitigate discrimination at whatever costs. 

She said: "I think it has been sensationalized and I do think it goes in waves. It was a different breed last time and it gets a lot of coverage and I don't understand because dogs, no matter the breed, do so much for us.

"To make it legal to muzzle a breed, no matter its temperament, and keep it on a lead is a huge violation of freedoms."

DFD has hosts who step forward to hold playdates. 

Nicky stated the walk will be 'enclosed and safe' but there will be greater opportunities in the future.