British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that American XL bully dogs would be prohibited by the year’s end following another suspected attack that resulted in a man’s death.
This declaration came shortly after a recent incident involving one of these robust dogs, which occurred less than a week ago. The dog attacked an 11-year-old girl as she walked to the shops with her sister in Birmingham, England.
In his announcement, Sunak expressed his deep concern about a series of severe dog attacks, emphasizing that this issue extends beyond a few poorly trained dogs and represents a recurring problem that requires addressing.
On Thursday, a man lost his life in central England due to an attack involving a suspected XL bully dog. Authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with this incident.
Campaign group Bully Watch, which advocates for a ban on the sale and breeding of XL bully dogs, reported that this breed was responsible for over half of all fatal dog attacks in Britain last year.
XL bully dogs originated from American pit bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers and began appearing in the UK around 2014 or 2015, with their numbers increasing rapidly in recent years, according to the campaign group.
Sunak has called upon law enforcement and experts to establish a clear definition of XL bully dogs, viewing this as an initial step towards their potential ban by year’s end.
Several British animal welfare organizations, including the RSPCA, have voiced their belief that banning specific dog breeds is not the solution. In a joint statement, they attributed the issue to “irresponsible breeding, rearing, and ownership” and advocated for the government to focus on implementing “dog control regulations” and promoting responsible dog ownership and training.
