One sentence summary – The UK government plans to ban American XL bully dogs due to concerns over their perceived danger to children and communities, following recent attacks, although some argue that breed-specific bans are ineffective and may lead to the euthanization of innocent dogs.
At a glance
- The UK government plans to ban American XL bully dogs by the end of the year.
- The ban is in response to the perceived danger these dogs pose to children and communities.
- A recent attack where a man died after being attacked by two suspected American bullies has influenced the decision.
- The ban has received support from campaign groups, Labour, and the architect of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
- Experts and animal charities warn that breed-specific bans may lead to the euthanization of innocent dogs and advocate for a multifaceted approach to reducing attacks.
The details
The UK government has announced plans to ban American XL bully dogs by the end of the year.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the announcement in a social media video.
The decision is a response to the perceived danger these dogs pose to children and communities.
This ban follows a recent attack where a 52-year-old man died after being attacked by two suspected American bullies.
Witnesses described the scene of the attack as horrific.
The dogs had escaped from a nearby property.
Before the ban is introduced, Home Secretary Suella Braverman expects the police to use all available powers to protect the public from these dogs.
The ban has received support from campaign groups, Labour, and the architect of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
However, defining the breed and implementing the ban will require some time.
There have been several recent attacks involving American XL bully dogs.
In one incident, an 11-year-old girl was seriously injured.
Various individuals and organizations have called for the ban.
Others argue that breed-specific bans are ineffective.
The UK currently does not officially recognize the American bully XL as a specific breed.
The breed is recognized in the US.
Since around 2014, there has been a significant increase in the popularity of this breed in the UK.
In the past five years, there has been a 34% increase in dog attacks in the UK.
Experts and animal charities warn that breed-specific bans may lead to the euthanization of innocent dogs.
They advocate for a multifaceted approach to reducing attacks.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, American XL bully dogs are expected to be banned.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has declared them a “danger to communities” following a suspected attack in Staffordshire.
This decision was also influenced by a prior attack in Birmingham that left an 11-year-old girl with severe injuries.
American XL bully dogs have been involved in other attacks, including one where 22 pregnant sheep were killed.
The American XL bully is not officially recognized as a breed in the UK and lacks specific DNA markers.
Dog behaviorist Debbie Connolly argues that adding the breed to legislation would be difficult due to its lack of recognition.
Dr.
Lawrence Newport, who has been tracking fatal attacks by XL bullies, believes these dogs are “uniquely dangerous” due to their breeding history.
Mark Riley, founder of Rocky’s Army, supports owners facing the potential destruction of their pets under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Riley argues that it is unfair to ban an entire breed based on the actions of a few individuals.
If a type of dog is added to the banned dogs list, it becomes illegal to own, breed, or sell them in the UK.
Currently, the pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino, and fila Brasileiro are the four breeds on the banned list.
If a dog is found to be a banned breed, it can be removed by the police or local council dog warden, even if it has not acted dangerously.
The owner must then prove in court that the dog is not a banned type to have it returned.
The RSPCA emphasizes that breed alone is not a reliable predictor of aggressive behavior in dogs.
They highlight the importance of responsible pet ownership.
The RSPCA also advocates for tough sanctions against those who use dogs to intimidate others.
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| independent.co.uk |
|---|
| – American XL bully dogs are set to be banned by the end of the year in the UK. – |
| The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, made the announcement in a video posted on social media, citing the danger the dogs pose to children and communities. – |
| The ban follows a recent attack in which a 52-year-old man died after being attacked by two suspected American bullies. – |
| The dogs escaped from a nearby property, and witnesses described the scene as horrific. – Home Secretary Suella Braverman expects the police to use all available powers to protect the public from these dogs even before the ban is introduced. – |
| The ban has received support from campaign groups, Labour, and the architect of the Dangerous Dogs Act. – |
| The prime minister acknowledged that defining the breed and implementing the ban will take time. – There have been several recent attacks involving American XL bully dogs, including one in which an 11-year-old girl was seriously injured. – |
| The ban has been called for by various individuals and organizations, while others argue that breed-specific bans are ineffective. – |
| The UK does not currently recognize the American bully XL as a specific breed, although they are recognized in the US. – |
| The breed has seen a rapid increase in popularity in the UK since around 2014. – |
| In the past five years, there has been a 34% increase in dog attacks in the UK. – Experts and animal charities warn that breed-specific bans could result in the euthanization of innocent dogs and advocate for a multifaceted approach to reducing attacks. |
| bbc.co.uk |
|---|
| – American XL bullys will be banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, according to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. – |
| The breed has been deemed a “danger to communities” following a suspected attack in Staffordshire. – |
| A ban was already being considered after an attack in Birmingham that left an 11-year-old girl seriously injured. |
| – American XL bullys have been involved in several other attacks, including one in which 22 pregnant sheep were killed. |
| – |
| The breed is not officially recognized as a breed in the UK and does not have specific DNA markers, making it difficult to ban outright. |
| – Dog behaviorist Debbie Connolly argues that adding the breed to the legislation would be challenging due to its lack of recognition as a breed. – Dr. Lawrence Newport, who has been tracking fatal attacks by XL bullys, believes the dogs are “uniquely dangerous” due to their breeding history. |
| – Mark Riley, founder of Rocky’s Army, supports owners facing the destruction of their pets under the Dangerous Dogs Act. – Riley argues that banning a full breed based on the actions of some individuals is not fair. – |
| If a type of dog is added to the banned dogs list, it becomes illegal to own, breed, or sell them in the UK. – Currently, the pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino, and fila Brasileiro are the four breeds on the banned list. – |
| If a dog is found to be a banned breed, it can be removed by the police or local council dog warden, even if it has not acted dangerously. – |
| The owner must prove in court that the dog is not a banned type to have it returned. – |
| The RSPCA states that breed is not a reliable predictor of aggressive behavior in dogs and emphasizes the need for responsible pet ownership and tough sanctions against those who use dogs to intimidate others. |
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