By the end of the year, American Bully XL dogs will no longer be allowed in the UK, according to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Following what Mr.
Sunak referred to be "another suspected XL bully attack" on Thursday,
a man passed away in England. It was the most recent in a string of horrible
incidents.
For the breed
responsible for the most recent assaults to be outlawed under the Dangerous
Dogs Act, which is in effect in England, Wales, and Scotland, Mr. Sunak claimed
he had ordered work to legally describe the breed.
What
is an American bully XL?
Of the four sizes of
American Bully—standard, pocket, classic, and XL—the XL is the largest.
The American XL bully
can weigh more than nine stone (60 kg), making him powerful enough to topple anadult.
American Pit Bull
Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers were allegedly mixed in the US in
the late 1980s, giving rise to American Bullies.
To produce a canine
that is even more powerful, they have been bred with other breeds.
The United Kennel Club
in the US claims that "despite its powerful appearance," an
American Bully "makes an excellent family dog" and has a "gentle
and friendly" temperament.
The main dog
associations in Britain do not recognize the American Bully as a distinct
breed, despite the US doing so.
Bully Watch, a UK
campaign group, claims that the breed first started showing up in the country
"around 2014 or 2015," with population growth accelerating during the
coronavirus outbreak.
In the UK, how many
attacks have there been?
American bullies were
responsible for some well-publicized assaults in the UK.
The most recent alleged
attack took place in the English West Midlands city of Walsall. Mr. Sunak
indicated his intention to pursue a breed ban after the man's passing.
On Saturday in
Birmingham, an American bully named XL attacked an 11-year-old child. After
being bitten by the animal, two men who intervened were also treated in a
hospital.
A 65-year-old
grandmother from Liverpool was slain in April when she attempted to break up a
quarrel between her two American bullies at her home. The coroner stated that
she had suffered "catastrophic injuries" when she was found dead.
In St Helens, England,
one week after her family had purchased the house, a 17-month-old toddler was
mauled to death in her own home by one of the dogs.
In 2021,
10-year-old Jack Lis passed away from severe neck and head injuries sustained
in Caerphilly, Wales, after being attacked by American bully XL. His mother,
Emma Whitfield, has demanded a ban on the dogs.
Are they illegal in
other nations?
In the United Arab
Emirates and Turkey, American Bullies are prohibited.
In addition, the breed
is illegal in some nations, such as the Republic of Ireland, where American
Bullies must always be muzzled and on leashes no longer than 2 meters (6 feet 7
inches) when in public.
Which breeds of dogs
are prohibited in the UK?
The following breeds
are prohibited from ownership under the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act, which outlaws
any dog that is "dangerously out of control"
Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo
Argentinos, Fila Brazileiro
Dogs with physical
traits similar to those of the prohibited breeds, such as crossbreeds, are
likewise banned.
What happens if you own
a breed that is banned in the UK?
Even if the dog is not
acting dangerously and no inquiries have been made, the police or local council
dog wardens have the authority to remove and retain the dog.
The owner must establish that their dog is not a banned breed if the case goes to trial.
They will be found guilty of a crime for which they face an infinite fine or up
to six months in jail if they cannot prove it or enter a guilty plea. Thecanine will also be put to death.
