Posted on 02/04/2024 5:12:21 PM PST by nickcarraway
A ban on American XL bully dogs came into effect Thursday in England and Wales after a spate of violent attacks. Owners now must apply for an exemption, which requires proof of neutering and liability insurance, if they want to keep their pets. All XL bullies must be muzzled and kept on a leash in public.
Before 2021, there were only about three fatal dog attacks per year in the U.K. Since 2021, however, there have been at least 23, many of which have involved American XL bullies, according to CBS News partner network BBC News.
"These dogs aren't cared for by the breeders — they just want money — so from the greed at the start (and) irresponsible ownership in the middle, we've got children dying," Emma Whitfield, whose 10-year-old son was killed by an American XL bully in 2021, said last September.
"My youngest son started comprehensive school last week, and he should have had his big brother showing him the ropes, but he's had to do it on his own. We're missing a massive piece of our family," Whitfield added.
What is an American XL bully?
An American bully is not identified by the U.K. Kennel Club as a specific dog breed. Rather, it is a type of bulldog that is the result of mixing several dog breeds, including Pit Bulls, American Bulldogs, and English Bulldogs.
The U.K. government published guidance to help identify the dogs in which it describes them as having "a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for [their] size."
Before the addition of American XL bullies, the selling, owning, breeding and abandoning of four other dog breeds was illegal in the U.K.: the Pit bull terrier, the Dogo Argentino, the Japanese Tosa and the Fila Brasileiro.
If someone has a dog that is one of these breeds, it can be taken by police, even if there have been no complaints against it.
Difficult to enforce
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to ban American Bully XLs in September 2023 after 52-year-old Ian Price was attacked and killed by two of the dogs. Members of the public attempted to help Price but were unable to get the dogs off of him.
Mark Hobrough, a police chief from the U.K.'s National Police Chiefs' Council, said the new ban would create "logistical challenges" for officers by sparking an increased demand for kennel space ahead of court rulings on whether dogs should be euthanized.
Over 35,000 dogs in the U.K. are already registered for American XL bully exemptions.
It’s for the best, and what needs to be done here in the US.
Maybe certain states will get the trend started.
Actually, I thought that new English law was not due to begin until this autumn, but the sooner the better.
“..all I said was “Hey, there, Dog! Somebody just told me your name was ‘Hal’, you know, like in ‘Halitosis’?”..
and he jumped at me, got all bent outta shape!
Some of us just don’t have much sense of humor, know what I mean?”
Of course, since they stab school children...
I would be interested in seeing the demographics of these people who own the dogs that have done this.
This image perfectly shows that the owner is the problem.
/s
How about Biden’s dog?
We have a family in the neighborhood who has two of the pit bull type dogs & when he walks them, he has trouble controlling them. I’ve started carrying my .380 when I take my yellow lab for a walk.
I had a trainer train me when I got a German Shepherd puppy years ago basically drag them on a short leash. What you’re teaching them is they need to pay attention to where you are walking and to pay attention.
That observation you made is a valid factor in this.
In the hands of the right owners, these dogs would no doubt be less dangerous. Would they be free of danger? Possibly, but I suspect there could be a lingering threat, but a responsible owner would understand those inherent characteristics of the breed and mitigate them.
Irresponsible or ignorant owners not only would not understand or mitigate those negative characteristics, but possibly, would encourage and foster them.
And I don’t doubt for a second that happens. In those cases, the owners should be held responsible in EVERY way for the actions of the animal.
I have heard it said that wolf hybrids should not be raised by people who either don’t know what they are doing, or they know damn well what they are doing, producing a dangerous dogs that may commit mayhem.
It isn’t the dogs fault, but truth be told, would this be an issue if the owners of American Bully dogs that were involved in mailings owned Golden Retrievers instead? Of course it wouldn’t.
Good.
—> I’ve started carrying my .380 when I take my yellow lab for a walk.
+1
Yep. They won’t muzzle the Muzzies.
I can relate. There’s a wooded trail near my home. I’ve been walking it for decades. Well, a couple of years ago some guy whose house is on the trail bought a pit bull. It’s chained in his back yard. The damned dog jumps and screams like a demon whenever someone walks by.
I still walk that trail. By now I’m sure to take a pistol with me.
Side note to the ATF snoops: I’m speaking hypothetically here. All of my guns were lost in a boating accident years ago. I just didn’t see that iceberg until it was too late.
I’d bump that to a 9, and I generally like .380s.
The demographics are liberal type people who complain we’re being racist when stereotyping pit-bull terrier type dogs. They have become the cause du jour, of the last 2 decades as more fool lib mindsets feel sorry for these poor put-upon dogs.
Ok, that’s the white part. Actually, white trash and white hippie-type liberals usually all with tats and piercings.
The other part is blacks of the inner city who are otherwise absolutely terrified of dogs, but feel good if they are the one holding this nasty dog.
My most troublesome patients were Chows, Rottweilers, and then Pitties. It is God’s gift that Chihuahuas are a small breed.
Thank goodness mine is 100% American Bulldog, and that we’re on this side of the pond...
They have amazing tenacity...except for one thing, getting shot. A 22 will dump them all day long. Ask a farmer...
And I also have seen a wave of young girls in their early 20s with Pit Bulls. Dogs they are utterly incapable of controlling if it wants to go on the attack.
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