Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is coaching his XL Bully canine to protect him following a string of terrifying raids on footballers’ houses – regardless of the damaging breed being outlawed following a spate of assaults.
The Spanish star, 28, is claimed to have obtained an exemption certificates for his pet Goku within the hope that the canine will assist shield his north London mansion.
The ban on XL Bully dogs got here into power on February 1 and the breed is now unlawful to personal with out an exemption certificates in England and Wales.
Raya and his mannequin girlfriend Tatiana Trouboul typically share snaps of their beloved pet which is claimed to be stored in a safe cage on the couple’s home.
The goalkeeper, who’s at present on mortgage to Arsenal from Brentford, has employed specialists from Elite Protection Dogs to coach Goku as a guard canine amid a spate of robberies on fellow stars’ houses.
Manchester City star Jack Grealish, Newcastle midfielder Joelinton, West Ham defender Kurt Zouma and Chelsea ahead Raheem Sterling are amongst those that have been focused in stunning raids.
A spokesperson for the corporate advised The Sun: ‘David Raya has one XL Bully. He is named Goku, he’s a one-year-old. David’s had him since a puppy.
‘Everyone with XL Bullys is fearful. But David is a accountable proprietor, he desires to be accountable with him.
‘We are coaching Goku on a long-term contract.’
Elite Protection Dogs, which has 35 years of expertise in coaching canines, can cost as much as £20,000 for its providers.
XL Bully dogs are actually unlawful to personal with out an exemption certificates in England and Wales, which means house owners might be taken to courtroom and have their pets seized if they’re unregistered.
The ban was introduced in after a string of assaults by members of the breed which have killed and critically injured each people and different dogs in recent years.
Since December 31 it has additionally been a authorized requirement to verify XL Bullys are microchipped, neutered, and muzzled and stored on a lead in public.
Scotland has introduced it’s going to try and put the same ban in place by July 31, whereas Northern Ireland can also be set to decide on the breed shortly.
Multiple folks have been killed by members of the breed, together with Ian Price who was attacked by two suspected American bullies final 12 months, 10-year-old Jack Lis who was mauled to death in 2021 and toddler Bella-Rae Birch who was savagely assaulted by her family’s pet XL Bully in March the identical 12 months.
This month, grandmother Esther Martin, 68, turned the latest person to be fatally attacked by the breed, days after the ban got here in.
She was mauled to demise by the 2 suspected XL Bully dogs when she attempting to interrupt up their combating puppies with a brush, her household claimed.
Raya seems to be maintaining his XL Bully as a guard canine in response to a stunning spate of raids on the houses of high footballers.
In December, Man City and England winger Grealish had his £5.6million mansion reportedly ransacked whereas his household was inside watching him play in a 3-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park in Liverpool.
Relatives, together with his fiancée Sasha Attwood, have been compelled to run and conceal after being alerted by barking dogs and noises upstairs; the thieves made off with a reported £1m of jewelry.
Players are reported to be spending 1000’s on ex-SAS officers, guard dogs and panic rooms with a view to shield themselves and their family members from criminals who’re focusing on high-end watches and bling in smash-and-grab raids.
Other footballers primarily based within the UK have additionally fallen sufferer to gangs who could also be flying in from jap Europe with the intention of raiding the houses of high-profile targets – typically, however not all the time, whereas they’re taking part in away video games.
Zouma’s Essex mansion was focused on December 2 whereas he, spouse Sandra and their 4 youngsters have been at home. Burglars snuck into an upstairs room and took jewelry and watches.
The raid shocked neighbours and prompted the Frenchman’s membership, West Ham, to supply a £25,000 reward for info resulting in the gang’s seize.
A 12 months in the past, Raheem Sterling’s £7million home in Oxshott, Surrey was raided whereas he was representing England on the World Cup, with £300,000 of valuables stolen.
Sterling flew home hours earlier than England’s essential conflict with Senegal in Qatar to be interviewed by detectives earlier than returning for the facet’s quarter last match towards France, which they misplaced.
And in March 2022, Paul Pogba’s home was burgled within the area of some minutes whereas he performed for Manchester United in a Champions League match.
The thieves broke in as his youngsters slept, forcing Pogba and spouse Zulay to hurry home – and the footballer is satisfied the timing of the raid was deliberate.
He wrote on social media: ‘This occurred in the course of the last minutes of final evening’s match after they knew that we might not be home.’
Pogba was the latest in a string of then-Man United gamers to be burglarised following different raids on Tahith Chong, Jesse Lingard and Victor Lindelof.
Chong was at home in Sale in January 2022 when thieves broke in, reportedly holding knives to his throat as they stole valuables and mocked his lack of safety.
Police reportedly warned Chong, who now performs for Luton Town, that his attackers might have been monitoring his social media for indicators of wealth.
Lindelof’s home was struck three days after Chong’s as he performed for Manchester United towards Brentford; his spouse Maja and their youngsters have been at home on the time.
Lingard was additionally focused by ‘away day’ robbers whereas he was in Birmingham taking part in towards Aston Villa in the identical month. And a month earlier than, ex-Man City star Joao Cancelo was assaulted by robbers after he tried to cease them making off with jewelry.
Posting photographs of his accidents on Instagram, he wrote: ‘When you present resistance that is what occurs. They managed to take all my jewellery and go away me with my face on this state.
‘I do not know the way there are folks with such meanness. After so many obstacles in my life, this is only one extra that I’ll overcome.’
Security sources beforehand advised the Mail of fears that overseas gangs are arriving with accomplices to swipe items earlier than openly walking by airport safety with their new bling and returning home.
Players are reportedly being advised by their golf equipment to keep away from publicising when they’re away by not sharing vacation images or footage of them at occasions on social media till they’ve returned home.
Some gamers have put in wide-ranging safety measures at their houses for some years – understood to incorporate panic rooms with safe cellphone traces, ‘geofencing’ measures that shield houses with cameras and movement sensors and personal safety.
Stars have even been advised to not go to jewellers in public, lest they be marked by ‘spotters’ who monitor clients coming and going from costly outlets. Instead, they need to ask lapidaries to go to them at home.
MailOn-line has approached Raya and Arsenal for remark.
