Prime Minister Confirms Plan to Outlaw American XL Bully Dogs

The Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak MP, has confirmed the Government's intention to legislate for a ban of American XL Bully dogs.

Speaking in a video on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the Prime Minister said: "These dogs are dangerous. I want to reassure the public that we will take all necessary steps to keep people safe."

The Prime Minister said that the Government had assembled a group of police and experts to define the characteristics of American XL Bully dogs. Once defined, that particular breed could then be added to the list of those banned under section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

I have previously written a summary of the main provisions of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

The Government has been under increasing pressure to act, following several recent American XL Bully dog attacks on both people and livestock.

Just yesterday a Staffordshire man sadly died as a result of injuries sustained when he was attacked by dogs of the type.

Last weekend an 11-year-old Birmingham girl was seriously injured by a cross-breed American XL Bully dog that became aggressive after breaking free from its collar. Two adult males were injured in the same incident. Video footage showed a man using a broom shank to subdue the enraged animal as it tore into one of the male victims.

In March a Wrexham farmer shot dead two American XL Bully dogs that mauled 22 pregnant ewes to death and caused injury to a further 48 animals.

There is no denying that this particular breed of dog is potentially very dangerous if not kept under proper control, but I really do think the buck has to stop with the owner instead of the animal itself. It is humankind that has genetically tinkered in order to establish such a stocky, powerful breed that has the ability and occasional inclination to pose such a risk. Humankind bears the ultimate responsibility.

Of course if an individual animal causes death or injury it and its owner should be dealt with robustly, but there are many thousands of American XL Bully dogs that have never shown any signs of aggression and whose owners act with the utmost diligence and responsibility. Is it right to deprive those owners of the right to have future dogs of that breed?

I think my preference would be for compromise legislation that permits the ownership of American XL Bully dogs, but on the understanding that they must be muzzled at any place other than their owner's enclosed, private property.

I would also increase the penalties for dogs dangerously out of control or causing death or injury to other people. The legislation should also be extended to make it a specific offence for a dog dangerously out of control to cause death or injury to any other dog. At the moment it is only a specific offence for a dog dangerously out of control to cause death or injury to a guide or assistance dog.