Government to *finally* look at banning XL bullies

[NoCharnce]

Thank goodness. I cannot believe it has taken so long* to even look at banning these awful creatures (I say that as a dog lover). Looks like the viral footage of an XL mauling two men who were trying to defend an 11 year old girl is the straw that broke the camels back.

Tweet direct from Home Sec: https://x.com/suellabraverman/status/1700924751646982312?s=46&t=QlNZXgFJWDXuxa3K3yo7ag

*policy makers have been captured by the RSPCA/Dog’s Trust etc “it’s not the breed, it’s the owner” dogma

These dogs are used as weapons, they are not pets. I would less afraid of a gun, at least a quick death and more accurate, without seeing a toddler mauled to death.
I've been attacked by a dog twice, once an idiot owner, German Shepherd had gripped my arm, owner who was watching said he was playing, big bite force and still wouldn't let go of my arm. Didn't try to drag me to the ground though.
The other time a feral dog in dog in Italy. Not only grabbed my arm but tried to get me on the ground. Fortunately had a coat on so not bitten. Very strong though.
Had two pet rescue dogs as a child, first was aggressive, eventually put down. Friends wouldn't visit. Dad would randomly resume these dogs and then have nothing to do with them.

Second was lovely but didn't like men, from the word go, very protective. Would need to be carefully introduced to boyfriends, he would growl if they touched me. He was lovely with female members of the household but eventually re traumatized by my dad. Heard him being beaten up. He wasn't really the same after that and would snap, needed to be kept on a lead, bit me when my face was close to his. He was always on a lead around children as they were at face level. I think he had his issues to begin with, but could have been a lovely dog. He wasn't an aggressive breed, but possibly some collie there?

Personally I would vet any dog around children, and teach children not to approach dogs they don't know. Plus teach keeping your distance for family dogs and boundaries. Phrase it as they'll, the dog, might be scared.

Rescue dogs in particular can have a history. Great niece shares her home with a lovely Labrador, bought when he was a puppy.

@Boudicasbeard I know it's not cool to say out loud but the type of folk who want and keep these dogs and then can't control them don't care about any of these sanctions.

Selling class A drugs, carrying weapons, driving without insurance and all the rest of the shit they get up to all carry heavy penalties too but the still do it.

Let's face it, people who live like this don't give a shiny shit about the rest of society, only themselves and their own needs.
Imagine being that dumb, irresponsible and arrogant that you would bring one into your home to live with your child. They are happy for this to happen so couldn't care less about you on the street being scared or attacked.

These dogs are only good for making the dealers they owe their debts to think twice about kicking their door in.

Edit dad would rescue

The absolute rubbish spouted around the “it’s not the breed, it’s the owner”. It gives a false narrative about what people are taking on. Herders instinctively herd, retrievers retrieve, bull breeds forget their fighting past and become ‘nanny dogs’…. until they are triggered and kill. Dog fighting is illegal and therefore there is no reason to have these animals that cause massive harm.

The use in crime is another reason to impose and enforce a ban.

It wasn't a full force bite when he went for it but he went for my neck, had never bitten me before

And went for a toddler, who tried to pet him, again out of character

Maybe being spotted with one should trigger an instant police raid on their homes. Perhaps that would be a deterrent. Own an XL bully, get searched for smack.

Or maybe it should trigger a social services intervention. Because anyone keeping one in a house with a child has no sense of parental responsibility.

Think it's possible he may have had a brain injury due to the beating. He was such a sweet dog. And really wasn't the same afterwards, had no attention from a vet.

I don’t think breed specific legislation has worked in the U.K. and I don’t think it is a long term solution to the issue of dangerous dogs overall. The people who are causing such an issue with poorly bred XL bullies will move on to something else. It’s worth noting that in the US the bloodlines seem to have far fewer issues with aggression, U.K. breeders do seem to have created a particularly problematic “breed”. These people will likely move onto some other breed next.

In the short term, I do think some sort of action needs to be taken on this “breed”, because something has clearly gone wrong with the way these dogs are being bred. I’d be in favour of mandatory sterilisation, muzzling in public and PTS for any showing any aggression. However, there also needs to be a longer term strategy for dealing with dodgy backyard breeding and ownership of large powerful breeds more generally.

Without that, we’ll just be facing the same problem in a decade or so with some other large powerful type of dog that becomes dangerous because it has been irresponsibly bred (and inbred). I suspect it will involve breeding from very large Eastern European and Asian livestock guardian breeds. (Carpathian shepherds, Caucasian shepherds, Anatolian shepherds, Kuchi, Ovcharkas, Central Asian Shepherd Dogs etc). They are big, powerful animals and already gaining in popularity in North America.

The treat of one of these dogs being let loose on my family would frighten me far more than a gun.

Threat

They are not pets

They are used in criminal activity and the threat of watching your child screaming, and being ripped to pieces, is the ultimate deterrent.

If you treat them as weapons you make their possession subject to a minimum sentence like other weapons. 4 years should do it.

That was effective on guns. Simple holding the gun, simple possession of the dog. It could be done.

It would upset a lot of dog idiots but they are weapons. Treat them the same as an unlicensed gun.

Suggest a small period of amnesty to hand dogs in, no questions asked.

After that the dog should be destroyed and the possessor 4 years in prison. The point of these animals is to scare the shit out of people.

And forbidden from owning any animal for life.

Anyone "keeping one for a friend" should also be sent to prison.

The communities that have to live with these animals and their dogs will be grateful.

There’s a man who lives in a flat in our village who owns one of these, if something triggered the dog there’s no way he could stop it. He’s a feeble looking man who is always smoking weed while walking.

I’ve noticed a pattern of when he walks it, he’s always heading for the common by our house at 11am and 4pm and at 8pm he’s on the village green. I know when not to walk my dog, I’m terrified of him being attacked. He a gentle old boy and over the years he’s already had a few nasty bites from Staffies, as have a number of dogs we know.

I honestly don’t know what the answer is, but something needs to be done. I don’t think a license is the answer, the majority of people who own these dogs aren’t going to care if they’re breaking the law by not having a dog license.

Not to come across as anti-gun control but at least guns don't have minds of their own.

The estate near my parents has about 10 XL bully types there, and 2 people breeding them.
My local dog FB group was discussing them... loads of people have them, including families and nurses etc. It is not all people who you would think are druggies or otherwise.

Well the dogs have more brains than the owners.

Who knew that I could keep a honey badger?!

Aren't they quite vicious?

Would it beat an XL Bully in a fight?

This. I’ve never understood why that argument is used to defend dog ownership when actually it’s does the opposite. If your saying masses of people are irresponsible for raising safe peaceful dogs then I don’t want to take the risk.

muzzle as a minimum should be brought in by law now.
I know some dogs won't take to it and this may prove difficult but something has to be done now.

As a society we surely cannot just accept another attack or death by dogs.

I just read that 6 people were killed last year by those dogs. Unbelievable they are still allowed. And often in the hands of the most irresponsible of people.

@XenoBitch

So a massive fine should work very well then. That post was in reply to someone who said fines for breeding wouldn’t work because it comes off your universal credit at a fiver a week. But if you aren’t on benefits then a £40,000 fine should put you off breeding.

They should all be sterilised to stop further irresponsible breeding. And mandatory muzzling in public with on the spot fines for failing to do so.

Have just seen a neighbour walking one- obviously not hers as I have never seen it before. Useless lead, no muzzle and tiny woman who could barely control it. We crossed the road to get away from in and she gave me a frown for being so unfriendly while the dog was all alert to us and trying to get away from her. Completely stupid.