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 defend his north London mansion.
The ban on XL Bully dogs got here into drive 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 presently on mortgage to Arsenal from Brentford, has employed consultants 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 surprising raids.
A spokesperson for the corporate informed 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 apprehensive. But David is a accountable proprietor, he needs 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 at the moment are unlawful to personal with out an exemption certificates in England and Wales, that means homeowners might be taken to court docket 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 significantly 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 can try to put the same ban in place by July 31, whereas Northern Ireland can also be set to decide on the breed shortly.
Multiple individuals have been killed by members of the breed, together with Ian Price who was attacked by two suspected American bullies final yr, 10-year-old Jack Lis who was mauled to loss of life in 2021 and toddler Bella-Rae Birch who was savagely assaulted by her household’s pet XL Bully in March the identical yr.
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 loss of life by the 2 suspected XL Bully dogs when she making an attempt to interrupt up their combating puppies with a brush, her household claimed.
Raya seems to be retaining his XL Bully as a guard canine in response to a surprising spate of raids on the houses of prime 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 pressured 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 so as to defend themselves and their family members from criminals who’re concentrating on high-end watches and bling in smash-and-grab raids.
Other footballers based mostly within the UK have additionally fallen sufferer to gangs who could also be flying in from japanese Europe with the purpose of raiding the houses of high-profile targets – typically, however not all the time, whereas they’re enjoying 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 yr 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 aspect’s quarter last match in opposition to France, which they misplaced.
And in March 2022, Paul Pogba’s home was burgled within the house 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 throughout the last minutes of final night time’s match once 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 in opposition to 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 enjoying in opposition to 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 pictures of his accidents on Instagram, he wrote: ‘When you present resistance that is what occurs. They managed to take all my jewellery and depart me with my face on this state.
‘I do not know the way there are individuals with such meanness. After so many obstacles in my life, this is only one extra that I’ll overcome.’
Security sources beforehand informed the Mail of fears that international gangs are arriving with accomplices to swipe items earlier than overtly walking via airport safety with their new bling and returning home.
Players are reportedly being informed by their golf equipment to keep away from publicising when they’re away by not sharing vacation pictures 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 telephone strains, ‘geofencing’ measures that defend houses with cameras and movement sensors and personal safety.
Stars have even been informed to not go to jewellers in public, lest they be marked by ‘spotters’ who monitor prospects 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.
