American XL bully dogs Archives

American XL bully dogs to be banned after attacks, Rishi Sunak says

Campaigners have welcomed the move to outlaw the breed they argue is “a clear and present threat to public health”, but concerns have been raised it may not be practical and lead to other kinds of dogs being prohibited.

American XL bully dogs are a danger to communities and will be banned, Rishi Sunak has vowed, after a man was mauled to death.

Announcing the move, the prime minister said he “shared the nation’s horror” at such attacks and they could not be allowed to continue.

Mr Sunak was responding to the latest incident in which a man died after being savaged by two dogs outside a property in Stonnall, Staffordshire, on Thursday afternoon.

A ban on American XL bully dogs was already being looked at after shocking footage emerged of an attack in Birmingham last weekend that left an 11-year-old girl with serious injuries.

South Yorkshire Police reported four separate dog attacks on children in two days, including one where a 15-year-old was taken to hospital after being savaged by an XL bully in Sheffield.

Police in London are also hunting the owner of a grey pitbull-type dog that attacked a four-year-old boy on Monday.

But the Dog Control Coalition, which encompasses animal charities including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club, said banning XL bully dogs will not stop attacks.

Any ban should be based on “robust evidence”, a spokeswoman for the coalition said – adding it was “deeply concerned” by the “lack of data behind this decision and its potential to prevent dog bites”.

She added: “The biggest priority for everyone involved is to protect the public – but banning the breed will sadly not stop these types of incidents recurring.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/american-xl-bully-dogs-to-be-banned-after-attacks-rishi-sunak-says-12961742

Why is the UK banning American XL Bully dogs?

The breed has been involved in several high-profile attacks

American Bully XL dogs are to be banned in the UK by the end of the year, the country’s Prime Minster Rishi Sunak has announced.

It comes after a man in England died following what Mr Sunak described as “another suspected XL bully attack” on Thursday. It was the latest in a series of deadly incidents.

Mr Sunak said he had ordered work to legally define the breed behind the recent attacks so it can be banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, which applies in England, Wales and Scotland.

What is an American bully XL?
The XL is the largest of four types of American Bully: standard, pocket, classic and XL.

Strong enough to overpower an adult, the American bully XL can weigh more than nine stone (60kg).

American Bullies are said to have originated in the US in the late 1980s, when American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers were crossed.

They have been crossed with other breeds to create an even more muscular dog.

The United Kennel Club in the US says that an American Bully “makes an excellent family dog” with a “gentle and friendly” demeanour, “despite its powerful appearance”.

It says that “some level of dog aggression is characteristic of this breed” but also notes “aggressive behaviour towards humans is uncharacteristic”.

While the US recognises the American Bully as a specific breed, the main British dog associations do not.

According to UK campaign group Bully Watch, the breed only appeared in the UK “around 2014 or 2015”, with numbers growing rapidly during the coronavirus pandemic.

How many attacks have there been in UK?
American Bullies have been involved in several high-profile attacks in the UK.

The most recent suspected attack happened in Walsall, in England’s West Midlands region. Following the man’s death, Mr Sunak announced his decision to seek a ban on the breed.

An 11-year-old girl was attacked by an American bully XL in Birmingham on Saturday. Two men who intervened were also treated in hospital after being bitten by the animal.

In April, a 65-year-old grandmother was killed after she tried to break up a fight between her two American bullies at her home in Liverpool. The coroner noted that she had been found with “catastrophic injuries”.

Last year, a 17-month-old toddler was mauled to death in her own home by one of the dogs in St Helens, one week after her family had bought it.

And in 2021, 10-year-old Jack Lis died from severe neck and head injuries after he was attacked by an American bully XL in Caerphilly, Wales. His mother, Emma Whitfield, has called for the dogs to be banned.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66820995

American XL bully dogs to be banned after attacks, Rishi Sunak says

American XL bully dogs are a danger to communities and will be banned, Rishi Sunak has vowed, after a man was mauled to death.

Announcing the move, the prime minister said he “shared the nation’s horror” at such attacks and they could not be allowed to continue.

Mr Sunak was responding to the latest incident in which a man died after being savaged by two dogs outside a property in Stonnall, Staffordshire, on Thursday afternoon.

The breed will be banned to protect the public, says the PM

A ban on American XL bully dogs was already being looked at after shocking footage emerged of an attack in Birmingham last weekend that left an 11-year-old girl with serious injuries.

South Yorkshire Police reported four separate dog attacks on children in two days, including one where a 15-year-old was taken to hospital after being savaged by an XL bully in Sheffield.

Police in London are also hunting the owner of a grey pitbull-type dog that attacked a four-year-old boy on Monday.

But the Dog Control Coalition, which encompasses animal charities including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club, said banning XL bully dogs will not stop attacks.

She added: “The biggest priority for everyone involved is to protect the public – but banning the breed will sadly not stop these types of incidents recurring.

“For 32 years, the Dangerous Dogs Act has focused on banning types of dog and yet has coincided with an increase in dog bites, and the recent deaths show this approach isn’t working.”

The coalition is urging ministers to tackle the “root cause” by dealing with “unscrupulous breeders putting profit before welfare”, and “irresponsible owners”.

Sunak: ‘This cannot go on’

Earlier, in a video statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, the prime minister said: “The American XL bully dog is a danger to our communities, particularly our children.

“I share the nation’s horror at the recent videos we’ve all seen. Yesterday we saw another suspected XL bully dog attack, which has tragically led to a fatality.

“It is clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs, it’s a pattern of behaviour and it cannot go on.

“While owners already have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control, I want to reassure people that we are urgently working on ways to stop these attacks and protect the public.

“Today I have tasked ministers to bring together police and experts, to firstly define the breed of dog behind these attacks, with the view to then outlawing it.

“It is not currently a breed defined in law, so this vital first step must happen fast.

“We will then ban the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act and new laws will be in place by the end of the year.

“These dogs are dangerous, I want to reassure the public that we will take all necessary steps to keep people safe.”

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/american-xl-bully-dogs-to-be-banned-after-attacks-rishi-sunak-says-12961742