American bullies have been involved in several high-profile attacks
The XL American bully is added to the list of banned dogs in England and Wales.
From February 1 next year, it will be illegal to own one unless the owner has successfully applied for an exemption.
The dogs were added to the list following several attacks involving the breed.
A man has died after an alleged attack by an XL American bully in Walsall on September 14. Just days earlier, an 11-year-old girl and two men were attacked by an XL American bully in Bordesley Green, Birmingham.
Another man died after being attacked by a suspected XL bully on Wednesday near Houghton-le-Spring on October 3, a day after a toddler was taken to London hospital after being bitten by a dog suspected of being of the same breed.
Owners, however, insist that despite their formidable appearance and build, the dogs make adorable pets.
What is the American bully?
American bullies are believed to have originated in the United States in the late 1980s, when American pit bulls and American Staffordshire terriers were crossed.
There are four variations: standard, pocket, classic and XL.
The XL can weigh over 60kg and is strong enough to overpower an adult.
The American bully is considered a specific breed in the United States. However, it is not recognized as such by the main British canine associations, such as the Kennel Club.
Bully Watch, a London-based group of policy experts, told BBC News that the breed first emerged in the UK “around 2014 or 2015”, and that numbers increased rapidly during the pandemic.
The United Kennel Club in the United States says an American bully “makes an excellent family dog.”
“Despite their powerful appearance, their behavior is gentle and friendly,” he says, but he also notes that “dog aggression is characteristic of this breed.”
Can an XL bully be exempt from the ban?
Owners will need to apply to list their dog on the Index of Exempt Dogs.
This is subject to a processing fee of £92.40, to cover administrative costs.
To keep an XL bully dog, owners must ensure it is microchipped, leashed and muzzled at all times when in public and kept in a secure location so it cannot escape.
Owners must also have liability insurance and be considered suitable people to own a dog of this type.
The UK’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, says owners will need to take certain steps but if they comply then “yes, you will absolutely be able to keep your dog”.
The introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 saw the breeding, sale or gift of breeds banned unless foreign travel was banned, while dogs had to be muzzled and kept on leads when They were in public.
Four other breeds are also banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991: the American pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the Dogo Argentinos and the Fila Brazileiro.
The law gives the government the power to ban any breed that appears “to have been bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose.”
The police have the power to seize any prohibited dog found in a public place.
The American bully XL is not specifically recognized by the Kennel Club and fears had previously been raised suggesting its ban would inadvertently ban a range of other dogs.
How dangerous is the American bully?
In addition to the two most recent incidents, American bullies have been involved in several high-profile attacks.
The breed has been involved in several high-profile attacks
Richard Baker, an NHS consultant surgeon, told BBC News that because the dog has “such powerful jaws, the injuries are worse than those of other breeds”.
“In American bullies, it’s a crush or tear injury,” he said. “Once they grab on, they won’t let go. This kind of injury is more damaging than that of small dogs.”
He said American bullies break bones, shred skin and damage nerves.
A study published in the journal Public Health showed there was a sudden increase in the number of deaths from dog attacks in England and Wales in 2022-2010, compared to an average of three in previous years.
Bully Watch said its data collected from news articles showed the American bully was linked to 14 deaths since 2021. The BBC has not independently verified this figure.
But other experts say it is wrong to use such data to draw conclusions about a single breed.
Why do some charities oppose a ban?
The Dog Control Coalition – which includes Battersea, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, BVA, the Scottish SPCA, the Kennel Club and Hope Rescue – told the BBC that breed-specific bans had proven ineffective.
“For 32 years, the Dangerous Dogs Act has focused on banning certain types of dogs and yet has coincided with an increase in dog bites, and recent deaths show that this approach is not working,” he said. he declared.
“The government must tackle the problem at the root by tackling unscrupulous breeders who put profit ahead of welfare, and irresponsible owners whose dogs spiral dangerously out of control.”
Some owners insist that this breed is no more dangerous than any other dog.
However, Mr Baker, the NHS consultant surgeon who dealt with the aftermath of dog attacks, has a different view.
“I don’t see any reason why any responsible person would want to own a dog bred for violence,” he said. “No one needs a vicious, dangerous animal.”
Who is buying America’s tyrants and is there a link to crime?
No expert interviewed by the BBC disputed that the American tyrant is growing in popularity.
Anecdotal evidence suggests they are favored by criminal gangs due to their strength and intimidating characteristics.
Ian Muttitt, chief inspector of the RSPCA’s special operations unit, said at the time that organized crime had become increasingly involved in extreme dog breeding over the past five years.
He said BBC sales were lucrative in themselves and could also be used to launder money.
In written evidence to a parliamentary inquiry, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said oversized dogs continued to be used as “status symbols” among criminals.
Additional reporting by Sean Seddon and Suzanne Leigh
Have you come across or do you own an XL American bully? You can contact us by email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you would like to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and do not see the form, you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.