A woman left with a surprise litter of eight XL bully puppies says she cannot keep them for much longer as she struggles to find a way to save them from being put down.

The dogs, now nine weeks old and growing fast, were born after the woman “saved” their mother and took her into the family home in Canterbury, unaware she was pregnant.

But their arrival coincided with a new government ban on the “dangerous” breed following a spate of attacks and even fatalities.

The legislation makes it illegal to own an XL bully without a special exemption certificate and prohibits them from being sold or rehomed.

It means the many offers of help the woman has received since KentOnline reported on her situation earlier this month are futile, leaving her with no option but to keep the puppies or have them euthanised.

The 43-year-old, who asked not to be named for fear of risking the tenancy on her home, said: “We are really at our wits’ end because we cannot keep them for much longer like this together as they will develop a pack mentality and just become too much of a handful for us.

“We weren’t expecting to be dealing with this when we took in the mum.”

Asked about the puppies being put down, she shook her head and added: “We’re dog lovers and we just couldn’t bear to do that.”

The woman gave a home to the pups’ mother, Brandy, in November “to give her a better life”, aware the new legislation was being introduced on February 1.

Now owners are required to obtain exemption certificates to keep an XL bully, which must be muzzled in public and neutered.

The new rules also prevent anyone from selling the dogs or even giving them away, with severe penalties for offenders.

That is proving a huge headache for the puppies’ owner, who is finding them an increasing handful and cost to accommodate.

An appeal for help resulted in almost £5,000 being raised through a GoFundMe page, which has paid for puppies to be exempted and will help with the ongoing costs of keeping them, including a £100-a-week food bill.

But the owner now also faces hefty bills to have them neutered and micro-chipped, which she is legally required to do, plus further costs for vaccinations.

The woman says she has tried to seek help from authorities in the hope of finding a solution, but with little luck.

“We have just met a brick wall in trying to get any support or advice,” she said.

“The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has set up the Dogs Index which they say I must contact but the line is constantly engaged and they have not responded to my emails.”

The owner says she has received dozens of offers to take the pups, including a number from abroad, but even sending them overseas is not a viable option.

“They don’t have any laws against XL bullies in Europe so I thought there wouldn’t be a problem,” she said.

“But Defra has just told me that we can only take them out of the country for a maximum of 30 days and then they have to be brought back, which is crazy.”

The woman, who also has a seven-year-old labrador called Honey, says she does not worry about the bullies being dangerous.

“Brandy is even nicer [than Honey] and we trust her completely with our children,” she said.

“Like all dogs, it’s how they are raised and treated by their owners which dictates their behaviour. It’s not the dog that’s the problem in most cases – it’s irresponsible owners.”

The RSPCA - which is against the XL bully ban - confirmed the owner will have to keep the puppies or have them euthanised.

A spokesperson added: “We are deeply saddened by tragic incidents involving dogs and we agree that there is an urgent need to provide protection for the public - but banning XL bullies is not the answer.

“Instead, we want to see the UK Government commit to the enforcement and improvement of current breeding and dog control regulations, and to promoting responsible dog ownership and training.

“Improving the way dogs are bred, controlled and treated throughout their lives is key to preventing dog bite incidents.

“The ban on XL bullies not only remains devastating for so many dogs, but is also taking a heavy toll on owners, on rescue centre staff who have grown close to dogs in their care, and to veterinary teams who face the prospect of being asked to put to sleep healthy dogs whose behaviour poses no risk.

“There is a huge risk that rescue centres and the veterinary profession will not be able to cope with the demands put on them by this law.”