American XL Bully dogs will be outlawed in the United Kingdom by the end of this year, according to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. This comes after a man died on Thursday as a result of dog attacks in Staffordshire.
The UK Prime Minister stated in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, that the XL Bully dogs are a “danger to our communities” and that the government is “working on ways to stop these attacks and protect the public.”
“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’s clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs. It’s a pattern of behavior and it cannot go on,” Mr Sunak said.
“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,” he added.
UK PM initiates process outlaw breed responsible for attack
The British Prime Minister stated that he has requested his ministers to identify the breed of the dogs responsible for the recent series of attacks so that it can be prohibited. He went on to say that the breed would be outlawed “under dangerous dogs” by the end of 2023.
“Today I have tasked ministers to bring together police and experts to firstly define the breed of dog behind these attacks to then outlaw 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 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,” Rishi Sunak said.
Recent dog attacks in the UK raise concerns and prompt legal action
On Thursday, a man was killed after being mauled by two dogs near a school in Staffordshire, UK. The victim suffered many life-threatening injuries in the attack and was transported to the hospital, where he was eventually pronounced dead.
An 11-year-old girl was attacked by an American XL bulldog crossbreed dog in Birmingham last week, injuring her shoulder and arm. Two men were also attacked by the dog. Following this, West Midlands Police announced the arrest of a 60-year-old man “on suspicion of possessing a dog dangerously out of control,” according to Sky News.
