The home secretary is seeking “urgent advice” about banning American XL bully dogs following a spate of recent attack.
The home secretary’s statement came as footage emerged of a dog attacking a girl, 11, who can be heard screaming in disturbing footage of the attack – with police confirming two men were taken to hospital after being bitten.
Two of four fatal in the UK in 2021 involved an XL bully, with the number increasing to at least six out of ten in 2022. According to Bully Watch, a group set up by a group of dog owners to monitor the breed, XL’s were responsible for 45 per cent of dog attacks on human and other dogs this year.
Suella Braverman has said the animals are a “clear and lethal” danger after the video of the attack in Bordesley Green emerged on the social media platform TikTok.
The girl and two men who intervened were bitten by the dog. All three were treated in hospital.
The dog was taken to a local vet to be checked over before being transported to secure kennels while investigations continued.
The owner has been spoken to by the police.
What is an XL bully?
American XL bully’s are dogs are close to the pitbull terrier and have been crossbred with other breeds such as English bulldogs, Olde English Bulldogge and American bulldogs.
XL’s got recognition as a breed from the US United Kennel Club in 2013 but they are not recognised by the main dog associations in the UK.
XL refers to their size and there are four categories: pocket, standard, classic and XL, which tend to be around 33-50cm in heigh and weigh in at 20-60kg.
