British Prime Minister Says American XL Bully Dogs Are Dangerous and Will Be Banned
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has described American XL Bully dogs as a “danger to our communities” and announced plans to ban them following public outcry over a series of recent attacks.
ByDANICA KIRKA Associated Press
September 15, 2023, 8:15 a.m.
FILE – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street to head to the House of Commons for his weekly Prime Minister’s Questions in London, Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Sunak described American XL Bully dogs as a “danger to our communities” and announced plans to ban them following public outcry over a series of recent attacks. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, file)
The Associated Press
LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday described American XL Bully dogs as a “danger to our communities” and announced plans to ban the breed following public outcry over a series of recent attacks.
Sunak said he had asked government ministers to bring police and dog experts together to legally define the characteristics of the American XL Bully, which is not recognized as a breed by groups such as the Kennel Club in Great Britain or the American Kennel Club in the United States. .
“This is not currently a legally defined breed, so this vital first step must happen quickly,” Sunak said in a video statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We will then ban the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act and new laws will be in place by the end of the year.”
The government has been under pressure to act after an 11-year-old girl was attacked and seriously injured by an American XL Bully on Saturday in Birmingham, England. Those concerns intensified Thursday after a man was killed in an attack that may have involved this type of dog.
“The American XL Bully dog poses a danger to our communities, especially our children,” Sunak said. “I share the nation’s horror at the recent videos we have all seen.”
Four dog breeds are currently banned in the UK: the pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo Argentino and the fila Brasileiro.
Some activists have called for the American XL Bully, originally descended from the American pit bull terrier, to be added to the list because they believe dangerous traits have been introduced into these animals.
The XL Bully is not recognized as a breed by the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom, which has maintained that no dog breed is inherently dangerous. The organization says breed-specific bans don’t address the biggest factors contributing to attacks, primarily irresponsible dog owners who train their dogs to be aggressive.
Bully breeds get their name because they were originally used in blood sports, such as bull baiting. Dogs have heavier musculature and bone structure than pit bulls.
ABC News
