In a recent concerning incident, an 11-year-old girl was brutally attacked by an ‘American Bully XL’ breed dog while it was being walked in Bordesley Green, Birmingham. The incident, caught on camera and circulated extensively on social media, has ignited concern among citizens and authorities alike.
The dog, post-attack, was examined by a local vet and subsequently confined to a secure kennel awaiting result of the ongoing investigation. The owner has been interrogated by the law enforcement authorities.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman expressed deep distress and concern over the incident, describing the incident as ‘appalling’, and the breed as potentially lethal, posing explicit risk to children. Profoundly moved by the incident, she has sought to rapidly explore possibilities of legally banning the ‘American Bully XL’ dogs.
Echoing Braverman’s sentiments, Former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland raised concerns about the alarming rise of attacks on people, pets and livestock by the said breed. Buckland urged the government for urgent action in banning these dogs.
The commissioned advice on banning the breed came last week, though the ‘American Bully XL’, is not currently facing any legal restrictions. It is also not recognised as a specific breed by the UK Kennel Club, the largest organization engaged with dog health, welfare and training.
It falls under the purview of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to populate the list of dog breeds banned in the country. Breeding, selling, or owning any breed on Defra’s banned list is illegal.
In the context of adding the ‘American Bully XL’ to the prohibited list, questions have been raised about its feasibility.
Reacting to the incident, a Defra spokesperson emphasised their ongoing efforts against dog attacks and antisocial behaviour, detailing the spectrum of possible retributions. This ranges from Community Protection Notices, that necessitates dog owners to rectify the behaviour of their pets, to more radical measures involving imprisonment of up to 14 years, disqualification from dog ownership, or even euthanasia of the concerned dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
