A woman died in Bristol. The dog involved was identified as an XL Bully, a banned breed in the UK.
The dog, Prince, belonged to Morgan’s cousin. The attack happened on Cobhorn Drive around 7 PM on February 26. Paramedics arrived quickly at the scene. Morgan’s injuries were too severe, and they could not save her life. She died at the location. Details about her injuries are withheld.
A woman outside was very upset. Paramedics likely alerted the police to the fatal attack.
Police caught the dog that attacked Morgan. They sedated the dog, and authorities took it away and euthanized it.
Owning an XL Bully without permission is illegal, as it violates the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991. The dog must meet specific size and characteristic requirements to qualify as an XL Bully.
The government describes the XL Bully as a large, muscular dog with a blocky head that shows great strength. These dogs look powerfully built and square shaped.
XL Bullies were bred for strength and aggression. People see them as status symbols. They caused many fatal attacks, which led to the recent ban on the breed that started February 1, 2024.
Historically, people bred the XL Bully for dog fighting. Now, they became popular pets. Over 35,000 were registered before the ban, according to The Mirror newspaper.
Experts warned that the breed is out of control. Savage attacks on dogs and people happened. In 2023, some UK residents united to stop the violence they encountered while walking dogs.
The group Bully Watch said XL Bullies caused 14 deaths in two years, with 11 deaths confirmed in people and three deaths suspected. They said bullies caused 43% of attacks this year.
Bully Watch members stay anonymous, fearing breeders’ retaliation. They asked for a ban on selling and breeding. They want to protect the nation’s safety and understand data on breed and attacks.
XL Bullies came from the US in 2014. Police tried to seize them, but couldn’t initially, as they differed from banned Pit Bulls. The average dog weighs 60kg.
A Bully Watch member told The Mirror their opinion: “They were designed to kill other dogs.” They are bred for size and muscles causing the genetics of fighting dogs make them aggressive, and easily aroused.
They are more likely to be aggressive compared to a Labrador or Collie, and display aggressive traits more. This happens in dog-on-dog attacks. These dogs increasingly appear on streets, and their reactions when walking your dog seem wrong.
The Kennel Club in the UK doesn’t recognize Bullies, so no clear number exists on how many people own them. They are crossbred with other bulldogs and terriers. They’ve become bigger, muscular, and strong, and owners use them as guard dogs, a status symbol.
Their genes often go unknown due to breeding, which makes their temperaments unpredictable. In 2021, American Bullies caused two of four fatal dog attacks. In 2022, they caused seven of ten deaths, with three victims being professional dog handlers. The victims ranged from 17 months to 62 years. Despite this, they stayed very popular.
Their popularity grew after 2019. The pandemic made it worse, Everyone became backyard breeders. Videos show how photogenic these dogs are. This made people want to breed and own them.
The price of these dogs reached 3-5k. People paid a lot, knowing they could earn money by breeding them. They have issues and require a lot of work, despite status aspect. Physically, you cannot stop it if it chases a squirrel.
They are a tragic victim of irresponsible breeding. People focused on profits over health. We should be more reasoned here.
Police arrested a man and woman, both in their 20s. They were in charge of an out-of-control dog that caused death. They also possessed a banned breed.