Following an attack on an 11-year-old girl and two men in Birmingham this week, the American XL Bully finds itself at risk of joining the list of banned breeds in the UK.
Reportedly, the child was bitten as she ran past the dog in the area of Bordeseley Green. Two men also sustained injuries to their shoulders and arms, as they tried to intervene to help her.
The dog has subsequently been transported to secure kennels while investigations continue, but the incident has highlighted wider concerns about the breed across the UK.
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The American XL Bully
American Bullies are believed to have originated in the United States, through the crossing of the Pitbull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier. Over the years other breeds have been added, in order to make them stronger and more muscular.
There are 4 variations in size, the pocket, standard, classic and XL, weighing in at between 20-60kg.
While the breed has been recognised in the United States since 2013, they are not currently recognised by UK breed associations such as the Kennel Club.
Rising in popularity since the pandemic, Bully Watch statistics show that 20% of reported dog attacks in 2023 involved American XL Bully dogs.
Will the breed be banned?
Home Secretary Suella Braverman believes these dogs to be a "clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly children", and has called for urgent advice on whether or not the breed should be banned.
There are concerns, however, regarding the feasbility of adding the breed to the Dangerous Dogs Act, particularly as it is not currently recognised by the Kennel Club.
With no breed standard agreed upon, the American XL Bully is very hard to define. The fear is that such a ban could in reality lead to other innocent dogs being put to sleep, based on the way they look.
It is currently against the law to have a dog that is dangerously out of control, and animal rescue charities such as the RSPCA suggest that legislation should look instead to focus on the actions of individual owners of dangerous dogs.
The outcome for the American XL Bully in the UK remains to be seen.
