EXCLUSIVE: Poll reveals more than 90 per cent of Brits say XL Bully dogs should be banned as yet another young child is attacked by ‘mutant’ pet… so what do YOU think?
- Poll of nearly 12,000 MailOnline readers finds 94% support Bully XLs dog ban
- ***WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT***
- READ MORE: Expert warns breeders are creating giant ‘mutant crossbreeds’
A shocking new poll of MailOnline readers has revealed that more than 90 per cent say XL bully dogs should be banned after yet another Briton was savagely attacked by the ‘mutant’ pet.
Mother Katie Deere, 31, told how she suffered shocking injuries in an horrific mauling by a powerful bully XL dog while walking with her daughter in a pushchair, but is unable to claim compensation because the animal is ‘owned by a minor.’
A poll of nearly 12,000 MailOnline readers (as of early Thursday morning) found that 94 per cent (more than 11,000) wanted to ban the aggressive bully XL breed, against just six per cent saying it should not.
This comes as a leading dog behaviourist demanded American Bully XL pets are ‘too dangerous to live’ and must all be eradicated.
Stan Rawlinson wants them removed before more people are torn apart by the ‘intrinsically evil’ beasts.
A poll of nearly 12,000 MailOnline readers found that 94 per cent (more than 11,000) wanted to ban the aggressive bully XL dog breed, against just six per cent saying it should not
Stan Rawlinson, who has more than 20 years of experience working with aggressive animals and was called as an expert witness for the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, said the controversial breed of XL bulldogs have ‘no redeeming qualities’ (file image)
A court was shown CCTV clips where the animal which mauled Jack Lis, 10, was repeatedly out of control, including here outside a shop
The dog was repeatedly not under control on the streets. Dragging along his owners and wriggling away from their grasp
Jack Lis was attacked by the XL bully dog while playing with a friend at a house after school in Pentwyn
Mr Rawlinson added that some of the animals, which have been booming in popularity in the UK, were being bred by shady ‘underground’ owners in the US.
He believes the breeders are ‘tinkering with DNA’ to enhance the beasts’ muscles, size and power – and get around bans on dangerous dogs such as the American Pit Bull terrier.
His comments come amid fresh calls for XL Bullys to be banned in Britain after shocking data revealed the breed has been involved in the majority of fatal dog attacks in the UK since 2021.
Two in four deadly dog attacks in the UK in 2021 involved the XL bulldogs – rising to six in 10 in 2022, including high-profile maulings that killed children Jack Lis, 10, and Bella-Rae Birch, 17 months.
But Mr Rawlinson, 76, fears all this could just be the tip of the iceberg and that if urgent action isn’t taken to stop the rise of the generically engineered American crosses from reaching Britain’s shores, more people and pets will be killed.
XL Bullys are usually bred from a combination of several dogs. The main one is the American Pit Bull terrier, which is banned in the UK.
Teaching assistant Katie Deere, 31, was with her own dog when she was suddenly set upon by an unsupervised bully XL breed in August
Miss Deere had already picked up her own dog out of concern for the loose aggressor, which ran across the road and clamped its jaws on her arm
She was rushed to hospital by ambulance, bleeding from wounds to both arms
However, with the XL Bully still not banned, underground breeders are able to mix Pit Bulls with other breeds including the American Bulldog, Old English Bulldog and the Mastiff, to create the new killer breed and dodge the law.
READ MORE: Mother, 31, who was horrifically mauled by powerful bully XL dog while walking her daughter in a pushchair reveals how she CAN’T claim compensation… because the vicious animal is ‘owned by a minor’
The expert, who has more than 20 years of experience working with aggressive animals, said the controversial breed beloved by celebrities has ‘no redeeming qualities’.
Teaching assistant Miss Deere was with her own dog when she was suddenly set upon by an unsupervised bully XL breed on August 17.
Miss Deere had already picked up her own dog out of concern for the loose aggressor, which ran across the road and clamped its jaws on her arm.
She was rushed to hospital by ambulance, bleeding from wounds to both arms.
The traumatised victim later underwent five hours of surgery on her arms, including 50 stitches and repair to a finger that was partially amputated.
She is now recovering with relatives and an aunt who has set up an online fundraising appeal said they had discovered Miss Deere is ‘not entitled to any sort of compensation or government help as the dog was uninsured and owned by a minor.’
The incident happened at 11am on 17 August in Askern, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
Despite their relative popularity in the UK, they are not officially registered as a breed by the UK Kennel Club, making it difficult to know exactly how many are in the country.
They are seen as ‘status symbols’ and are often purchased for their intimidating looks.
Speaking to MailOnline, he said: ‘These dogs are a danger to women, children and everyone else. They should all be euthanised as a breed. There’s something wrongly wired in these dogs.
‘They can just flip. You’re talking nothing to full on and someone is dead in less than 15 seconds. You just can’t stop them. These dogs can rip people’s heads off. They’re incredibly powerful. They can open up your jugular veins almost immediately.
‘They’re too dangerous to be in the hands of the general public. You wouldn’t walk around with a mountain lion on a lead – because that’s effectively what you’ve got.’
And in a fresh spate of bloodshed, a court this week heard how two out-of-control XL bulldogs had to be shot by a farmer in Wales after they escaped their owner, killing 22 pregnant sheep and injuring 48 more during a savage rampage.
Stan Rawlinson, who has more than 20 years of experience working with aggressive animals, warned the Bully XL is ‘very, very reactive’ and feared deaths caused by the breed could soar in the coming months and years
Jack Lis, pictured, suffered fatal injuries to the head and neck after he was attacked by the dog
Among those killed by bullies was 10-year-old Jack Lis in November 2021. Pictured is the dog that killed Jack Lis
Brandon Hayden, 19, was jailed for four years and six months at Cardiff Crown Court. His friend Amy Salter was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Both were banned from owning a dog indefinitely
Mr Rawlinson, who was once called as an expert witness for the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, warned the Bully XL is ‘very, very reactive’ and feared deaths caused by the breed could soar in the coming months and years.
Echoing warnings by PETA members and vets in the country, Mr Rawlinson said: ‘We averaged three dog attack deaths a year for the past 25 years. From that, we had 10 last year with up to seven related to the XL Bully. This is only going to get worse.’
‘The type of dogs they’re breeding to get these super strong, powerful-looking aggressive dogs are very reactive and have high prey drive. But then start messing with genetics and you’ve got a monster on your hands,’ Mr Rawlinson said.
‘The XL bully is intrinsically bad as a breed. They’re an evil dog because of what’s been done to them over in America, where amateur geneticists have tinkered about. There’s a screw loose.’
Two of four fatal dog attacks in the UK in 2021 involved a Bully XL, with the number increasing to at least six out of 10 last year.
So far in 2023, there have been at least two fatal bully attacks – with fears the breed could have also been involved in three other dog killings.
Online adverts selling the breed and the surging number of the animals seized by police suggests the number of the dogs in the country could be rising rapidly.
Among those killed by bullies were 10-year-old Jack Lis in November 2021 and 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch in March 2022.
Mr Rawlinson added: ‘I wouldn’t go near one. I’ve been around all sorts of dogs, even the most dangerous. But these XL Bully dogs are very reactive. They’re like the old Roman dogs of war that attacked Britain and helped forge an empire across the continent.
‘More people are going to die unless we do something about it.
‘They aren’t an official breed, it’s impossible to track them. The American Pitbull has been banned since 1991 but they are still coming in. That dog is the starting point for the XL Bully and more are being brought in every day.’
On Monday, David Hughes, 26, of Pen y Wern, Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham, appeared at the city’s magistrates’ court and admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and being the owner of a dog worrying livestock.
It comes after two of his XL bulldogs were shot by a farmer after they slaughtered 22 pregnant sheep and injured 48 others during a frenzied, bloody rampage.
The attack happened on private agricultural land at Rhosllanerchrugog in March after the dogs escaped from their home – with one turning on the horrified farmer.
Hughes was banned from keeping dogs for five years and ordered to pay £900 in fines. The financial cost of the incident totalled at more than £14,000.
PC Chris James said: ‘I welcome this result after what was a horrific scene for the victim, who is still suffering the effects of the incident today. The emotional and financial impact on the farmer has been considerable.
‘Livestock attacks are extremely distressing not only for the animals, but for their keepers too.
‘The costs, both financially and emotionally for such distressing incidents are wholly unacceptable.’
Elsewhere in Wales, 10-year-old schoolboy Jack Lis was mauled by a near-7st Bully XL dog at a house in Caerphilly on November 8, 2021.
Amy Salter, 29, and Brandon Hayden, 19, owned Beast after the ‘muscular’ animal was advertised ‘for free’ on Facebook with a warning that it was ‘not good with other dogs.’
What is an American Bully XL and what makes it so dangerous?
American bullies are a relatively new breed, having originated in the 1980s.
They are mixed breed bulldogs, typically American pitbull terriers crossed American, English and Olde English bulldogs.
Despite their relative popularity in the UK, they are not officially registered as a breed by the UK Kennel Club, making it difficult to know exactly how many are in the country.
They are seen as ‘status symbols’ and are often purchased for their intimidating looks.
Though the bully XL is the most common, the dogs can also be bred with mastiffs and other larger dogs to make them bigger, XXL or even XXXL.
Controversial and illegal practices such as ear cropping are also carried out to make them appear more intimidating.
The males can weigh between 70 and 130 pounds of muscle bone and have enormous strength.
The ‘status symbol’ nature of the dogs has seen them become something of a weapon, purchased by people who want a thuggish and scary looking dog.
Despite their lack of official certification, there is also a booming market with puppies regularly sold on Facebook and through places like Gumtree for anywhere between £500 and £3,000.
However, experts are at pains to warn of their potentially dangerous nature, especially if their aggression is encouraged.
They descend from bull-baiting dogs and if they aren’t trained properly then their aggression could surface.
This could pose a real threat to humans, particularly children, and has been seen in several shocking recent deaths involving the dog.
And tragedy struck when the raging animal killed the schoolboy inside a property near Hayden’s home in South Wales. Armed police needed to fire seven rounds to kill the dog, which attacked Jack without provocation.
Jack had been playing with a friend after school when they went to the house where Beast was roaming around downstairs and then bit his face, head and neck.
Hayden, 19, was jailed for four years and six months at Cardiff Crown Court today. His friend Salter was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Both were banned from owning a dog indefinitely. After Beast’s death it was later found to be a 115lb American Bully or XL Bully, which are not on the banned breed list.
Elisa Allen, from PETA, believes that all Bully XLs should be spayed or neutered to stop the breed spreading in Britain.
She explained how the breed’s powerful bodies and strong jaws make them a threat to humans and also pointed out how the dog was bred for bull-baiting and fighting – not as a family pet.
She said: ‘It is an undeniable fact that most serious and fatal dog attacks are by bully breeds. These breeds were intentionally developed long ago for “gameness”, meaning they are prey-focused and hard to distract once in attack mode and have extremely muscular, powerful bodies with strong jaws.
‘When dogs attack, it can be because they have been tormented, beaten, poorly socialised, isolated, caged, or chained by a current or previous owner, but no one can pretend that owners are solely to blame, as these breeds were selectively bred for bull-baiting and fighting.
‘We can prevent more attacks by banning the breeding of these types of dogs – which can be done by mandating that all bully dogs be spayed or neutered.’
The exact number of Bully XL dogs in the UK is unclear as the Kennel Club doesn’t officially recognise the breed.
However, social media is awash with bullies and, in June, the Met revealed it had seized 44 American bullies so far in 2023, up to May.
This is almost three times the next most common breed and means that, on average, the force confiscated up to two bullies a week.
To put it in greater context, in 2018 and 2019, no American bullies were seized by the Met.
These figures only apply to London, and with the majority of fatal attacks taking place outside the capital, there are potentially thousands of bullies across the UK.
These numbers are believed to have soared during lockdown, as dog ownership surged while people were stuck at home.
And the rise of TikTok, as well as the popularity of bullies with major celebrities such rapper Drake and Little Mix Leigh-Anne Pinnock, have made the dog a status symbol.
Various celebs own American bullies, including rapper Drake pictured with Winter (right)
Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock is known to own a dog from the controversial breed
Dr Lawrence Newport, a law and criminology lecturer at Royal Holloway University recently published a detailed report on the Bully XL.
He told MailOnline the dog’s breeding for fighting posed a big risk to children.
‘The past two years has seen an unprecedented rise in the number of people killed by dogs, including several children,’ he said.
‘American Bully XLs (closely related to the banned Pitbull breed but larger, able to reach weights of 60kg) are disproportionately responsible for these deaths.
‘Retrievers were bred to retrieve. Pointers to point. But these dogs were historically bred for fighting so we should not be surprised that even good owners have found themselves, or their children, maimed or even killed by these dogs.
‘The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs can add these dogs immediately to the banned dogs list under the Dangerous Dogs Act and must do so now.’
Brighton-based vet Marc Abraham previously spoke about how the Bully XL breed has become a status symbol instead of a pet.
‘These dogs are a nightmare when they are in the wrong hands,’ the vet said. ‘And the trouble is, very few people have the right hands.
‘These dogs have low frustration thresholds. Coupled with the fact they often aren’t exercised enough because they are status dogs, they can act dangerously.
Aaron Chalmers, of Geordie Shore fame, also owns one of the dogs – and has attracted controversy for its cropped ears
‘Genetically, they are compromised in terms of communication with other dogs and then they are trained to be killers.’
Jack Lis, ten, who died in November 2021 after suffering catastrophic injuries after being mauled by an eight stone dog while playing at a friend’s house in South Wales.
The dog named Beast, was shot dead by armed police officers following the attack on Jack.
Beast was an 115lb American Bully or XL Bully and is believed to have been given away for free on Facebook.
Jack’s mother Emma Whitfield has since launched a campaign for a new law that would overhaul the Dangerous Dogs Act. She wants to see stricter penalties and stronger rules to stop illegal and irresponsible breeding and selling.
The grieving mother asked MPs to support her call in banning XL Bullies and taking steps to ensure that ‘nobody else is ever put in the position of me and my family’.
‘There needed to be a ban of the breed. Get rid of every single one of them,’ she said.
‘This won’t bring my son back, but I realise it’s not as simple as banning certain dogs. There will always be another breed involved.’
Met Police reportedly deal with at least one dangerous dog each day and seized 479 out-of-control animals last year. The force seized 333 in 2021.
The rise in dog attacks in recent years, which has ballooned from around 3,300 in 2002 to more than 8,800 in 2021, has sparked some calls for a revamp of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
That 1991 law saw a blanket ban imposed on four specific ‘fighting-style’ breeds in the UK; the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasiliero.
Dog psychologist Bruce Clanford previously told MailOnline that dog attacks are undoubtedly on the rise and he shared his own fears about a lack of responsible dog owners.
He said: ‘There’s no regulation on owning dogs, or people handling them, there’s also no standard of education which means there are too many people who don’t know what they’re doing.
Metropolitan Police data shows how the American Bully has become the most seized dog in London in recent years
The dogs are widely available on Facebook and sites like Gumtree (pictured) for potentially thousands
‘Lockdown didn’t help, many people had a knee-jerk reaction to just get a dog because it helped them get out and about while we were locked down.
‘So many dogs have now come out over the past few years that have had to be rehomed, people didn’t understand how to look after them.
‘Personally, I’ve seen this a lot in the last two years.’
Hospital data for England also laid bare the increase in dog attacks in England.
It revealed that there has been an 88 per cent increase in attendances, from 4,699 in 2007 to a staggering 8,819 in 2021-22.
Dr John Tulloch, a veterinary public health expert at the University of Liverpool authored a 2021 research paper that revealed a startling rise in the number of dog bite incidents over the past 20 years.
He told MailOnline that although wider research into the cause of this explosion in attacks was limited, there had been an emergence of ‘worrying’ trends that he has witnessed in more recent dog ownership.
He said: ‘In the last 20 years or so there’s been a definite rise in cases of severe dog attacks, it has been creeping up and up and up and we should be calling it what it is, a growing public health problem.
‘In most cases, it’s a dog that is known to the victim as these events are occurring behind closed doors.
‘Children still account for around 25 per cent of hospital admissions due to dog bites, but we need to understand why adults are being attacked more now, it’s a striking problem.
‘And more deprived areas of the country have higher dog bite hospitalisation rates compared to the least deprived communities, which had the lowest.’
As well as human maulings, the dogs are also responsible for a slew of attacks against other animals.
Campaign group Bully Watch UK claims there have been 34 such incidents in the past two weeks alone – with the breed being ‘disproportionately responsible for some of the most brutal attacks’.
A spokesman for the group told MailOnline: ‘In the past two weeks we have seen American Bullies responsible for cats killed, dogs killed, chunks of flesh torn from a horse, police helicopters called, a police sharpshooter called, a little girl’s face bitten, and a court report showing two of them killed or injured 70 sheep.
‘We’ve documented 34 attacks from them in the past two weeks alone. We think they’ve already caused 14 deaths. Over 40 per cent of all dog attacks are caused by only this one type of dog.
‘We no longer feel it’s a question of if American Bullies should be banned. We feel it’s a question of when the body count will be so intolerably high that Government is forced to act.’
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