Bully XL: the dog breed called ‘deadly’ in the UK and which could be banned

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After an 11-year-old girl was attacked by a dog of this breed, a representative of the British government said that it is evaluating a possible ban on the animal in the country. Photo shows Bully breed dog in profile REUTERS via BBC The British government is evaluating a possible ban on American Bully XL dogs in the country, according to the United Kingdom’s Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said on Sunday (10). The statement was made after a dog of the type attacked an 11-year-old girl. Images of the attack, which took place on Saturday (9), in the city of Birmingham, England, were shared on the internet. Braverman called the incident “terrible” and said the breed poses a “mortal” danger, particularly to children. West Midlands Police are investigating the case. The girl was bitten by the dog during a walk in the central region of the city. Two men who helped were also bitten and suffered injuries to their shoulders and arms. The dog was taken to a veterinarian to be examined. He was later sent to a kennel while investigations were ongoing. The dog’s owner was questioned by police. After images of the attack were released on social media, Braverman shared on X (the old Twitter): “This is terrible. The American XL Bully is a clear and deadly danger to our communities, especially children.” “We can’t go on like this. I ordered urgent advice on the ban [da raça no país].” Former UK Justice Secretary Robert Buckland also shared: “I am deeply concerned about the rise in attacks on people, pets and livestock by dogs [da raça] XL Bully. The government should take action and ban these dogs.” Some experts consider, however, that banning specific breeds is not the best way forward (see more below). The American Bully XL is not subject to any legal restrictions in the United Kingdom GETTY IMAGES via BBC The American Bully e-commerce. In the UK, the study into banning the breed on British soil had already been commissioned last week, a government source told BBC News. Adding dog breeds to the banned list is the responsibility of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the United Kingdom. In the country, it is illegal to own, breed or sell dogs that appear on the Defra banned list — currently, the prohibited breeds are the pit bull terrier, the tosa inu, the dogo argentino and the Brazilian fila. In Brazil, bills being discussed in the National Congress attempt to prevent accidents of this type. One of them (PL 4871/20) determines that “dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs must be driven in public places with a handler, muzzle, choke and collar”. Another (PL 2376/2003) talks about prohibiting the “commercialization, reproduction and importation of ‘Pitt Bull’ dogs”. Some Brazilian cities have specific laws that prohibit the ownership or free movement of some species of dogs. According to the PA news agency, there are concerns about the feasibility of adding Bully XL to the banned list in the UK. The dog is not recognized as a specific breed by the UK Kennel Club, the largest organization working for dog health, welfare and training in the country. A Defra spokesperson said: “We take dog attacks and anti-social behavior very seriously. We are ensuring that the full force of the law is applied.” “This can range from Community Protection Notices — which require dog owners to take appropriate action to deal with their dog’s behavior — to more serious breaches of the Dangerous Dogs Act , where people can be imprisoned for up to 14 years, lose ownership of their dog, or even result in the euthanasia of dangerous animals.” Is banning the best way? In an article published on The Conversation, an academic news website, Carri Westgarth and John Tulloch, professors at the University of Liverpool, point out that dog attacks are increasing. “Research shows that one in four people has been bitten by a dog in their lifetime, but less than 1% of bites result in a hospital admission. Our research revealed that hospital admissions in England for ‘dog bites or attacks’ have increased over the over a 20-year period, from 1998 to 2018.” According to them, the increase in the incidence of dog bites is concentrated in adults, whose numbers have tripled in the last two decades. Experts also point out that “there is little consistent scientific evidence that some breeds are inherently more aggressive than others.” “Our assessments suggest that the breeds reported in bite cases are simply the most popular breeds in that region,” they say. “However, when we look at the breeds involved in fatalities, it is clear that most of them are large and powerful. This does not mean that smaller breeds cannot cause deaths — they have been known to do so.” “A complicating factor here is breed distribution, as powerful breeds have always been linked to underserved communities where violence and injuries are already central. Some evidence links these breeds to criminal status or use, but most are pets of the family.” In addition to choosing the appropriate breeds for each context and researching the genetics of the parents, Westgarth and Tulloch are committed to prevention. “Improving people’s expectations of what good dog welfare looks like is critical to minimizing fearful and frustrating situations for dogs. This includes not abusing dogs in the name of training and providing sufficient exercise and space.” “Training methods should be gentle and reward-based, as punishment-based methods are associated with lower success and greater stress, fear, and aggression,” they conclude.

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