Despite government efforts, fatal attacks by XL Bullies have increased in 2024, raising concerns about the effectiveness of breed-specific legislation.
The crackdown on XL Bullies in the UK has been deemed a 'failure' as fatal attacks by the breed have surged in 2024. This is despite stringent measures taken by both the former Conservative government and the current Labour Party. Since February, there have been 10 fatalities due to out-of-control dogs, with half of those incidents involving XL Bullies.
This represents an increase from 2023, where nine people were killed in dog attacks, three of which involved the contentious breed, reports Birmingham Live. 'Sadly we don't think anything has changed since our mum's death,' a daughter told The Sun newspaper. She added, 'We have heard of attacks by XL Bullies on people and other dogs regularly. Not all attacks get reported in the media, we just see people posting about them in Facebook groups and community groups.' She also highlighted a lack of comprehensive data collection: 'No single agency seems to be collecting the statistics on attacks. We've reached out to Defra and the police and no one seems to have any up to date figures nor total figures for attacks since the law was implemented. We still see people walking around with these dogs without muzzles. It appears that no one is checking that the dogs are registered until an attack has happened - by then it's too late.' 'Who is checking if owners move or if the dogs are passed around to different owners? We don't think the laws are being enforced. To be honest, we think a different solution is needed, maybe a training programme and behaviour checks on these dogs, so that the law is proactive in identifying dogs that are a danger to humans.' Since February, it has been illegal to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate. Another victim, who now fears leaving her home due to the attack, told The Sun: 'I thought I wasn't scared of dogs, but I am now. 'It's not the dog's fault at all, they're just doing what they're trained to do. I blame the owners, it's bad training.
XL Bully Dog Attacks UK Legislation Safety
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