XL Bully attack | 8 year old boy seriously injured

[ThisOldThang]

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/schoolboy-8-seriously-injured-after-28610020

"A schoolboy is in a serious condition in hospital after being mauled by what is believed to be an XL bully.

Merseyside Police were called to Wadham Road in Bootle just after 5.20pm on Saturday following reports a dog had bitten an eight-year-old boy to the head in the communal area of flats nearby.

The boy was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries and required emergency surgery. He remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition."

IMHO the ban doesn't go anywhere near far enough and all XL Bullys need to be put to sleep.

AIBU?

Absolutely as you have said there are daily occurrences of other peoples pets killed by these dogs.
I have read many an account of an owner who is traumatised and will never be the same again after watching their pet be mauled to death in front of their eyes and not able to do anything to stop it.
Other pets are luckier if you can call it that and after being mauled do survive after many thousands of pounds of vet fees, but again the pet and owner are never the same again.

Exactly @Gloriosaford and that’s what puts these dogs in a category to most other dogs. So when people say ‘it’s not the dog, it’s the owner’ they’re only half right. Yes, overwhelmingly the owners are a certain type of person, but the breed itself is problematic and not suitable to be kept as a pet.

My dog (a mongrel) has never bitten a person or another dog. I am not stupid enough to say ‘he never would’ because he is a dog and if he was sufficiently frightened, I’m sure he is capable of biting. But like most dogs, it would be one bite to stop whatever was happening that felt threatening to him. He is made up of multiple breeds, none of which were bred to bait bulls!

Please note I’m not suggesting ‘one bite’ would be fine and dandy- it wouldn’t, which is why he is well trained, kept under control, and people (especially children) are warned if they are doing something that is upsetting or worrying him (because his body language is easy for me to read but I know not everyone is familiar with the signs that a dog is uncomfortable).

November 2012 - an 8 day old killed by two jack russell X

That was in Sunderland, the dog was supposed to kept in an outhouse, but dad was left with the baby. He got totally pissed and fell asleep, with the dog in the house.

@Waitingfordoggo I think the majority of pet dogs are fine, but as you say will bite if pushed. Because its a dog, that's the way they defend themselves.
I always explain to DC that dogs can't talk so can't say no. They don't have arms/ hands to push someone away. All they really have is their mouth full of teeth.

From there we discussed other more subtle signs that a dog could give and we as humans should pick up on.

I know from my own dogs, they would give me a cretin look if they had enough of DC- that could be just the noise or running around or the tugging on the lead when they walk the dog ... it is then up to me to deal with the issue.

Some of the dog attacks mentioned above are clearly cases where nobody took the dogs warning signs seriously.

XL Bullies on the other hand are have killing in their DNA.

This is a much more up to date and better list

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_Kingdom

scroll down and you will see a more comprehensive list of XL bullys from 2020 onwards.

Well, that's a depressing read and no mistake and it doesn't even seem exhaustive.

Totally agree @DancefloorAcrobatics. XLBs are in a different league. It’s not their fault- it’s the way they have been bred due to stupid choices made by humans. But they are really dangerous and very obviously not suitable as pets.

Dog body language is important and not always dealt with properly. My dog occasionally growls (eg if he is in his bed tired/ill/in pain and someone tries to get close to him). My DH used to tell him off for growling and try to get him to stop but I explained that this is his only way to warn people he’s unhappy without actually resorting to biting. He is doing us a favour really by saying ‘please don’t keep doing that because I’d rather not have to bite you’!

Totally. Interesting the dog breeds though isn't it? All commonly linked by those breeds perceived (and known) to be dangerous such as pit bulls, staffies, Alsation/GS's, Bulldogs, Mastiffs and XL bullies. Except for the lakeland terrier and the spaniel. I was suprised to read about the police dog that had no less than 11 previous bite records!

The thing I found most worrying and depressing was the reaction to the police shooting two XLs in East London. The dogs were menacing police officers. An armed officer shot the dogs.

And…outrage from some dog lovers, including on MN. A terrible, distorted and foolish sentiment about dogs has taken hold. It really must be stamped on. I’m not sure how - or if - things can be put right, but a message sent by imposing greater legal restrictions on dogs in public would be a good start.

@WhatsTheUseOfWorrying I know it was terrible the way so many people responded to that. My friend said she had just seen all over her Facebook people posting about two dogs being shot. She didn’t even know the backstory to it because people were completely omitting the context.

That dog in east London had actually attacked a woman and her dogs which is why the police were called in the first place and yet their only concern is the dangerous dog.

A lot of dog lovers prioritise dogs to the extent of being really inhumane to fellow humans . They show zero concern about a human being at risk of a dog but are all up and arms when a dangerous dog is killed.

Absolutely. They notify me that the owner is unhealthily fixated on their dog, and expects the world to revolve around it, because they probably can't form meaningful relations with other humans.

The poor woman (who fortunately remained anonymous) who called the police after the dogs attacked hers was abused online, called a Karen etc. No shits given for her poor dog but the sentimental wailing about the bullies being shot could have been heard from space.

A terrible, distorted and foolish sentiment about dogs has taken hold
@WhatsTheUseOfWorrying
I agree and it seems to me that the size and power of this foolish distorted sentiment is related to the size and power of the abominable canines under discussion, I think people are mesmerized by them and they want to subordinate themselves to them.

The vast majority of XL Bully owners are from a certain socio economic background. The way they live seems almost tribal, primitive even. Is that why they place such high status on these dogs because they somehow identify with the dog? The dog is an integral part of their clan, and there's very little differential between the dogs and the humans?

I would imagine it would also void your third party insurance if your dog did attack someone.

The fact that so many people are specifically protective of dangerous dogs shows me that a lot more than we can imagine possess dogs like this too. They’re just worried their aggressive dog will also face consequences.

I just saw this on social media. If you watch the video the woman walking the mastiff can not control the dog whatsoever. It literally drags her to the other side of the road to maul a Jack Russell and it took about 4 men to end the attack on the dog.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13086977/Moment-pensioners-Jack-Russell-killed-attack-street-Mastiff-dog.html#comments-13086977

I don't think most people understand how powerful these monster dogs are. DH is an ex rugby prop and built like the proverbial shithouse. But he really struggled to hold back his sister's dog when it was lunging on a lead - and this was just an adult, Old English Sheep Dog. He wouldn't stand a chance holding back an XL Bully in a rage.

Really? I think these owners are trying to do the right thing by making it very clear that people shouldn’t approach or pet their dog. They’re trying to be responsible and safe and get slated for it. 😕

Yes, these are typically people with little formal education and therefore little to no critical thinking skills.
Keeping a dangerous dog as a pet is one of the few ways that they can get some of the power and status to which they feel entitled.
They do not have the sophistication to distinguish between true respect and fear and so they want to be feared, seeing it as synonymous with being looked up to and respected.
They have no desire to be good or decent, that would require being honest about themselves, moderating their behaviour and restraining themselves.
They want to dominate by fear, do exactly as they please safe in the knowledge that others are too afraid to challenge them.

That’s so upsetting @Fageyoghurt 😞 Absolutely ridiculous for that woman to have a dog that can pull her across the road like that. So fucking stupid.

@Waitingfordoggo It is, and how sad that when the poor dog escaped it was that frightened it ran into a car which finished it off. The owner must be traumatised.

I wonder what the consequences if any will be for that owner and her dog. Probably nothing 🙄

This time it was a small dog…. the next time it might be a small child it goes for …and the owner won’t be able to do a thing about it.

Absolutely appalling but as you say very little will be done unless the victim pushes for it with the police.Sadly it seems to take 2 or 3 dogs being killed by the same dog before anything is done.
I do believe it falls under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act which is a criminal offence.

HipHop63 · Today 13:35

Totally. Interesting the dog breeds though isn't it?

Yes, any dog can bit and if the victim is a child, or infirm person, it can be devastating. I remember two greyhounds killing a baby in a pram, at a shopping parade, when I was 10 or 11. 1980 or so, but I can't seem to find anything about it.

It's brining back memories of my dad warning me to steer clear of dogs in cars and aggressive ones behind gates. If I was attacked, to give up my arm.

Do you drive a car?