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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

"Loving" XL Bully mauls 10yo to death

772 replies

HeadacheEarthquake · 04/11/2024 15:40

www.lbc.co.uk/news/schoolgirl-malton-xl-bully-attack/

When will people wake the fuck up

OP posts:
Thread gallery
24
DancingLions · 04/11/2024 16:35

I would be all for a cull but if they're not going to do that, they should at least make it illegal to have one in homes where children live or visit. The (stupid) adults can risk themselves if they want but the kids don't have a choice.

Every time I've seen one out and about, it's walking the owner rather than being walked. I see grown men struggling to control them when they're not wound up or anything. I wouldn't want to see one that was actually in attack mode. It must be terrifying.

Nogaxeh · 04/11/2024 16:36

SpudleyLass · 04/11/2024 15:52

Sadly I don't think so.

The only culling going on is that of children and the odd unfortunate adult.

When the ban was first announced, as lenient it was, the outrage from so many on my social media feed was pretty shocking.

They thought it too far and I thought it not far enough.

The current government have shown a willingness to be unpopular. First they annoyed the pensioners by taking their winter fuel allowance. Then they annoyed the farmers by taxing the inheritance of farmland. Today they annoyed students by increasing tuition fees.

With luck they might annoy the pet owners and do the necessary and cull dogs that are as dangerous as a big cat.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/11/2024 16:36

How has she managed to get them now I thought you couldn’t rehome them?

There's no such thing as "can't" to some of these owners, @Itstakingtoolong, "not supposed to" is merely a challenge to what passes for their mentality, and the demographic being so often the same will come as a surprise to nobody

Since the dogs involved aren't an actual breed but a mixture of several I'd be interested to know how a cull would work though. I agree it's needed, but how could it possibly work beyond the authorities seizing dogs they "just didn't like the look of" - which idiot owners would never agree to anyway?

BreatheAndFocus · 04/11/2024 16:37

A tragedy. RIP poor little girl 😢

Nobody should have these dogs (or bully crosses). They’re not pets. You know when you go to the zoo and you look at a tiger and think it’s sweet like a giant pussy cat, but then you suddenly look in its eyes and feel fear because it’s a predator and would rip you to shreds if it could ? These dogs are exactly the same - predators. Unpredictable, huge and bred to kill.

I love dogs but they need to get rid of all these and also ban the ownership of their replacements like the Canó Corso. Nobody needs a fucking terrifying monster of a dog for a pet.

INeedAnotherName · 04/11/2024 16:38

I read that it was a newly acquired pet - which means it was already an adult. That means none of the family knew the dog properly. None.

The parent who brought it into the home should be charged with manslaughter. Her death was avoidable. Poor love 💔

Itstakingtoolong · 04/11/2024 16:39

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/11/2024 16:36

How has she managed to get them now I thought you couldn’t rehome them?

There's no such thing as "can't" to some of these owners, @Itstakingtoolong, "not supposed to" is merely a challenge to what passes for their mentality, and the demographic being so often the same will come as a surprise to nobody

Since the dogs involved aren't an actual breed but a mixture of several I'd be interested to know how a cull would work though. I agree it's needed, but how could it possibly work beyond the authorities seizing dogs they "just didn't like the look of" - which idiot owners would never agree to anyway?

It definitely needs reporting someone needs to go and check what type of dogs they actually are and if there are any other risks because if a parent will expose their dc to that kind of risk what other potential dangers are they not recognising? It’s so sad these poor children put into such dangerous situations 😞 Alos poor dogs they don’t ask to be created and the kindest thing for them all is to be euthanised

Probsnot · 04/11/2024 16:39

Craftymam · 04/11/2024 16:28

Well then they need to charge them for murder.

Something to the affect of;
Any owner of a dog due for a cull not submitted will be charged with intentional murder in the event of a fatality or attempted murder in the event of an attack.

They aren't worried about being charged because they don't think their dog would hurt anyone.

The reality is that there are lots of dog laws that are openly disobeyed with little action because there is a lack of will to enforce it.

For example dogs are routinely sold with cropped ears, found without microchips, puppies openly sold without the mum present, dogs off lead where they shouldn't be

These things have been illegal for years but no one cares really. How often do you see people smoking weed openly in the street, or openly drug dealing? There's a huge chunk of society that lives outside of law enforcement

Most people insure their cars because it flags up on cameras, there's no such thing with dogs

As a responsible owner, my dog is pretty traceable. There's kc registration with parents or her adoption records, her microchip, vet records, vaccine records, insurance, local trainers and dog groups that know us. We are frequently walking in dog areas where should there be for example some mass checking of microchips by airport style security we would be found. My dog exists on the " system"in some way

This dog was illegally rehomed at least. Neigbours report theyve not seen it walked. There's likely no record of its birth, it's possibly not microchipped or having appropriate vet care.

It likely doesn't exist in a paper work way

HeadacheEarthquake · 04/11/2024 16:40

INeedAnotherName · 04/11/2024 16:38

I read that it was a newly acquired pet - which means it was already an adult. That means none of the family knew the dog properly. None.

The parent who brought it into the home should be charged with manslaughter. Her death was avoidable. Poor love 💔

Illegally rehomed then, and the parents have paid the ultimate price for their stupidity

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/11/2024 16:40

I would be all for a cull but if they're not going to do that, they should at least make it illegal to have one in homes where children live or visit

Another fair idea, @DancingLions, but again how could it possibly be policed?

It's no use expecting some of the owners to behave responsibly and such people tend not to appreciate being told what to do, so what's left?

Someone needs to go and check what type of dogs they actually are and if there are any other risks because if a parent will expose their dc to that kind of risk what other potential dangers are they not recognising?

Edited to add I don't disagree, @Itstakingtoolong, but again who's going to do it even if such owners would engage - which some certainly won't?
The idea of parents being charged with manslaughter's probably not a bad one, but good luck with that when jails are bursting and there'd certainly be an outcry about victimising "poor bereaved parents"

Beepbeepoutoftheway · 04/11/2024 16:40

There's some near me and his owner (a big built man) has no control whatsoever. If it went for a child, they'd stand no chance.

Nogaxeh · 04/11/2024 16:41

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/11/2024 16:36

How has she managed to get them now I thought you couldn’t rehome them?

There's no such thing as "can't" to some of these owners, @Itstakingtoolong, "not supposed to" is merely a challenge to what passes for their mentality, and the demographic being so often the same will come as a surprise to nobody

Since the dogs involved aren't an actual breed but a mixture of several I'd be interested to know how a cull would work though. I agree it's needed, but how could it possibly work beyond the authorities seizing dogs they "just didn't like the look of" - which idiot owners would never agree to anyway?

A cull would be hard. You'd have to stay with compulsory registration and microchipping, with declaration of breed at the time of registration. Then you'd have to decide on some sort of test to identify the dogs you wanted to cull, and test all those that might have been registered as related breeds.

It would be a long and costly process, and if you charged an annual fee for the registration (it's €20 for a dog licence in Ireland) then you might create a surge in abandoned dogs.

But these dogs are causing such horrific and avoidable deaths. I think it would be worth the effort.

honeyytoast · 04/11/2024 16:41

powotsits · 04/11/2024 15:52

There is an idiot near us who walks one off lead without a muzzle round the little residential streets near us – always full of children out playing

Same here, first instinct was to wonder if you’re near me but it’s probably massively common :/

BirthdayRainbow · 04/11/2024 16:42

Sad for the family? Bloody sadder for the poor child whose last moments were filled with terror and pain and has paid the ultimate price. They knew the dangers. The family will have some semblance of moving on. They will live, they will have happy times, they will make new memories.

Their child won't.

Errors · 04/11/2024 16:44

Nogaxeh · 04/11/2024 16:41

A cull would be hard. You'd have to stay with compulsory registration and microchipping, with declaration of breed at the time of registration. Then you'd have to decide on some sort of test to identify the dogs you wanted to cull, and test all those that might have been registered as related breeds.

It would be a long and costly process, and if you charged an annual fee for the registration (it's €20 for a dog licence in Ireland) then you might create a surge in abandoned dogs.

But these dogs are causing such horrific and avoidable deaths. I think it would be worth the effort.

Yep I think it would be worth it too.
Advise of huge penalties for non-compliance.
Set up a hotline maybe so members of the public can report if they see them out and about. Splash it all over the news.
If we managed to keep most people indoors throughout the whole of Covid, we could get rid of the vast vast majority of these dogs and thus massively reduce the risk of it happening again

Laptoppie · 04/11/2024 16:44

BirthdayRainbow · 04/11/2024 16:42

Sad for the family? Bloody sadder for the poor child whose last moments were filled with terror and pain and has paid the ultimate price. They knew the dangers. The family will have some semblance of moving on. They will live, they will have happy times, they will make new memories.

Their child won't.

I agree with this, people know the dangers- their decisions ultimately killed their child. I don't feel sorry for them, I think punishments should be harsher.

Errors · 04/11/2024 16:45

Surely most of these dogs are registered at a vets for their jabs etc?? Or am I being naive?

swiftieswoop · 04/11/2024 16:46

Nogaxeh · 04/11/2024 16:36

The current government have shown a willingness to be unpopular. First they annoyed the pensioners by taking their winter fuel allowance. Then they annoyed the farmers by taxing the inheritance of farmland. Today they annoyed students by increasing tuition fees.

With luck they might annoy the pet owners and do the necessary and cull dogs that are as dangerous as a big cat.

Edited

You say unpopular, but I'm fine with all those things. Pensioners are getting other increases to pensions and related that more than outweigh fuel allowance (and seem to believe there's an endless money pit for them and them alone), of course farmers sitting on estates worth millions should pay inheritance tax, students rarely pay back tuition fees anyway and the govt can't bail out universities.

But I agree with you on the XL bully thing.

Only problem is they're always working on new similar breeds, as fast as you ban one another pops up.

Fairislesweater · 04/11/2024 16:47

seems like every other day there’s an attack, and these are the ones that make the news. A primary aged child was mauled in my town recently, zero press coverage.

WiddlinDiddlin · 04/11/2024 16:49

Well, its all going about as expected by those against the ban on the grounds that it would not work (not that something shouldn't be done, just that the ban would be any sort of a solution) to reduce/stop attacks/deaths.

If that photo is of the dog (it does suggest it is) then I can immediately see that the owners have been ill advised on muzzling, that muzzle is not appropriate for exercise, it works by physically strapping the dogs mouth closed, which stops them breathing properly or panting to cool down. Such muzzles are only appropriate for a few minutes during grooming or veterinary procedures, and this is not some obscure detail, this is widely known and publicised when discussing and buying muzzles.

If they can't get that right... what else have they got wrong out of ignorance?

The ban has not addressed the poor housing, handling, training, lack of socialisation and management that heavily contributes to attacks.

As such we will still see attacks, though more in peoples homes than out, as dogs are kept at home more, walked and socialised less (particularly if they are a problem on the lead), and so become more frustrated as their needs are not met. (More frustrated = more unpleasant/hard to live with behaviour = more heavy handed punishment and neglect like caging/crating for hours, not getting the exercise they need. Its a vicious cycle that leads to fearful, explosive, unhappy dogs and at the size XL Bullies are... that is dangerous.)

I'd like to see stricter, harsher punishments for owners. Historically, particularly when a dog kills or injures the owners children/relatives child, this hasn't been done as the view tends to be that the parents have already suffered enough - but that isn't how we deal with other causes of death where the parent is negligent and puts their child at risk!

We really need to stop pushing the responsibility and blame, onto the dog, and put it squarely on the humans who bought, trained, handled and housed that dog, and chose to put a child into the mix.

OttersAreMySpiritAnimal · 04/11/2024 16:50

I think it's time for licencing.
No sales of pets unless by a registered breeder. Breeders must pass tests and pay an annual fee to maintain their registration. And numbers of breeders should be limited. Monthly inspections of facilities.
Mandatory vet visits for microchipping and welfare checks, or your dog is removed from your care.
Rehoming only via charities.
All social media posts about rehoming and sales banned.
And stop importing dogs from other countries for rehoming too.

Gymnopedie · 04/11/2024 16:50

powotsits · 04/11/2024 15:52

There is an idiot near us who walks one off lead without a muzzle round the little residential streets near us – always full of children out playing

That's illegal and should be reported. The dog will be seized and potentially destroyed.

Report it. Don't be the one who stood by thinking someone else would do it.

laveritable · 04/11/2024 16:51

These things are NOT domestic pets! They need to be culled ASAP!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/11/2024 16:51

Nogaxeh · 04/11/2024 16:41

A cull would be hard. You'd have to stay with compulsory registration and microchipping, with declaration of breed at the time of registration. Then you'd have to decide on some sort of test to identify the dogs you wanted to cull, and test all those that might have been registered as related breeds.

It would be a long and costly process, and if you charged an annual fee for the registration (it's €20 for a dog licence in Ireland) then you might create a surge in abandoned dogs.

But these dogs are causing such horrific and avoidable deaths. I think it would be worth the effort.

Agree once again, Nogaxeh, but just what chance do you suppose there is of some of these owners complying with any of it - especially if the type who exist on the borders of criminality or have actual convictions already?

I'm honestly not trying to create difficulties, though I realise it might sound that way, but natural outrage will only get us so far if the remedies are unworkable for whatever reason

Nanny0gg · 04/11/2024 16:52

powotsits · 04/11/2024 15:52

There is an idiot near us who walks one off lead without a muzzle round the little residential streets near us – always full of children out playing

Have you reported to dog warden/police?

Probsnot · 04/11/2024 16:52

Errors · 04/11/2024 16:45

Surely most of these dogs are registered at a vets for their jabs etc?? Or am I being naive?

Completely I'm afraid.
Very few dogs percentage wise are vaxed completely as adults
Lots have baby ones (but you wouldn't be able to tell if they would meet xl standards as pups) but lots of people completely skip it.

Microchipping is the law for years. Approximately 19% of stray dogs have Microchips that conform to the law According to battersea

There's also that if you've bought a dog you suspect is illegal you are going to avoid the vets. You aren't going to declare it on your vet form or get insurance. People say they are mastiffs crosses or staffy crosses

In someways I believe this contributes to aggression rates. Dogs that are not walked, not trained properly and in need of vet care are dogs that are more likely to be aggressive

Tricky for vets. They don't want to discourage people from bringing ill pets to vet care, if they fear the vet will report them. It's lose lose