Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Woman 19 dies in dog attack

693 replies

Matrixremooted · 27/02/2025 14:10

Woman 19 dies in dog attack in Bristol

Apologies if there’s already a thread on this, but how many more lives have to be taken in these horrific attacks before the Government admit that the current measures are failing. It surely has come to the point now that all XL Bullies should be euthanised.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
LaceApplique · 27/02/2025 14:59

It isn't fair on the dogs either. These animals are not and never will be suitable pets. I'm sure the 'it's the owner, not the dog' brigade will be along shortly.

Matrixremooted · 27/02/2025 14:59

Maybe it’s time for a petition!

OP posts:
EasternStandard · 27/02/2025 14:59

Viviennemary · 27/02/2025 14:46

How many more folk are going to be killed before a complete ban is brought in. Utter madness

Edited

Agree

greyeyedwonder · 27/02/2025 15:00

Oh for god sake all I said was that he was a well behaved trained dog! His owner is a police dog trainer and very experienced! He's muzzled when he goes out and never off his leash.
I didn't say he didn't have the potential to turn, all dogs do and yes their sheer size and power make it impossible to do anything if they do.
Years ago it was the rotty, then the staffy, now it's the XL bully, and in a few years time it'll be another breed.

Matrixremooted · 27/02/2025 15:01

Whatever happened though its no way to die, the poor woman must have been terrified and my thoughts are with her family

This is what is so distressing about these attacks. This shouldn’t be happening and I feel Government are becoming negligent by not calling for an immediate cull.

OP posts:
caramac04 · 27/02/2025 15:02

My worry about allowing the breed to die out naturally through lack of breeding is that I suspect a number of XL’s haven’t been registered and could be used to cross breed with, say, a dog with guarding traits. It could take lots of litters to get a dog that doesn’t have the physical characteristics of an XL but might have the aggressive trait/genetics c/o Killer Kimbo genes.
There will always be dickheads who want a ‘hard’ dog.

ForRealwhen · 27/02/2025 15:02

I just posted on this two days ago - this makes it the third attack in as many days this week

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/boy-12-left-seriously-injured-31076176?int_source=nba

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjry83gjlqno

With this one, doesn't say whether this was an XL Bully
www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/child-taken-hospital-serious-condition-31074704?int_source=nba

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 27/02/2025 15:02

greyeyedwonder · 27/02/2025 14:31

My friend is a XL bully owner, her DH is a police dog trainer. In the right hands these dogs are no different to any other large breed. Yeah I know not all are owned by people with his experience and capabilities. He's a much loved, well behaved family pet and very affectionate dog who tends to drool on you a lot.

Cool story, they all like to drool and show affection until the time that they don't. That is when the problems start.

It's not much different to gu ownership, they aren't a problem until they are fired

Mightymoog · 27/02/2025 15:03

greyeyedwonder · 27/02/2025 15:00

Oh for god sake all I said was that he was a well behaved trained dog! His owner is a police dog trainer and very experienced! He's muzzled when he goes out and never off his leash.
I didn't say he didn't have the potential to turn, all dogs do and yes their sheer size and power make it impossible to do anything if they do.
Years ago it was the rotty, then the staffy, now it's the XL bully, and in a few years time it'll be another breed.

No, you were going with the "owner not the breed " bollocks .
Great that he's muzzled outside the house. Not so great for your friend if she gets her face ripped off in her own home .
Let's just hope it's only the owners that get hurt

JoyousEagle · 27/02/2025 15:04

greyeyedwonder · 27/02/2025 14:31

My friend is a XL bully owner, her DH is a police dog trainer. In the right hands these dogs are no different to any other large breed. Yeah I know not all are owned by people with his experience and capabilities. He's a much loved, well behaved family pet and very affectionate dog who tends to drool on you a lot.

He's a much loved, well behaved family pet and very affectionate dog

Yeah, that's often what the news reports report people as saying after a dog has killed a child.

Partybaggage · 27/02/2025 15:04

greyeyedwonder · 27/02/2025 15:00

Oh for god sake all I said was that he was a well behaved trained dog! His owner is a police dog trainer and very experienced! He's muzzled when he goes out and never off his leash.
I didn't say he didn't have the potential to turn, all dogs do and yes their sheer size and power make it impossible to do anything if they do.
Years ago it was the rotty, then the staffy, now it's the XL bully, and in a few years time it'll be another breed.

And you said this:

He's a much loved, well behaved family pet and very affectionate dog who tends to drool on you a lot.

They all say these vile dogs are lovely, well behaved, much loved family pets. Until theyre not.

Aggression is bred into them. It's their whole purpose.

A lion might be friendly but it might also rip your face off.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 27/02/2025 15:04

greyeyedwonder · 27/02/2025 14:31

My friend is a XL bully owner, her DH is a police dog trainer. In the right hands these dogs are no different to any other large breed. Yeah I know not all are owned by people with his experience and capabilities. He's a much loved, well behaved family pet and very affectionate dog who tends to drool on you a lot.

This is a perfect example of why these dogs are such a problem. Absolute denial of the dangerous killer in their midst.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 27/02/2025 15:04

I used to be an 'it's not the dog, it's the owner and with sufficient socialisation and training there's no such thing as a bad dog.' Until I actuallly MET an XL Bully and looked it in the eye. I have no question, that dog could have killed me without thinking about it. Usually when you look at a dog it will react, either confrontationally or submissively. This bully did not react at all, almost as though it didn't recognise me as a living thing.

I'm really sorry for all those who own them and adore them, but they can switch from cuddly to killer without any cause or warning.

LostMyLanyard · 27/02/2025 15:05

greyeyedwonder · 27/02/2025 14:31

My friend is a XL bully owner, her DH is a police dog trainer. In the right hands these dogs are no different to any other large breed. Yeah I know not all are owned by people with his experience and capabilities. He's a much loved, well behaved family pet and very affectionate dog who tends to drool on you a lot.

🤦‍♀️ Until he isn't! Educate yourself.

beadystar · 27/02/2025 15:06

greyeyedwonder · 27/02/2025 14:31

My friend is a XL bully owner, her DH is a police dog trainer. In the right hands these dogs are no different to any other large breed. Yeah I know not all are owned by people with his experience and capabilities. He's a much loved, well behaved family pet and very affectionate dog who tends to drool on you a lot.

The woman in Limerick whose XL bully killed her had a TikTok video from a few days prior to the event, of her dancing with her 'big softy'.

Fairyliz · 27/02/2025 15:06

Jazzjazzyjulez · 27/02/2025 14:34

They should be banned and culled without a doubt.

Pity we can’t do the same with the owners.

Alexandra2001 · 27/02/2025 15:07

Matrixremooted · 27/02/2025 15:01

Whatever happened though its no way to die, the poor woman must have been terrified and my thoughts are with her family

This is what is so distressing about these attacks. This shouldn’t be happening and I feel Government are becoming negligent by not calling for an immediate cull.

Whilst i agree these XL dogs should all be culled, it will not stop the criminal fraternity using dogs as a weapon or back street breeders...

If we want to get to the root cause, we need licensing, enforcement, training and insurance.. the licence needs to be v expensive, certainly more than £200 and failure to have a licence leading to a criminal conviction & loss of the dog... which would put it all on par with owning a shotgun.

The licence fee would pay for enforcement, without which, all the laws in the world are pointless.

itsnotabouthepasta · 27/02/2025 15:07

I love dogs, but I was walking in Colchester and came across an XL Bully for the first time. To give the owner his due, the dog was on a lead and was muzzled but it was the first time I've ever been scared of a dog. I was inadvertently following the dog/owner up to a car park and I literally hid in a shop until the dog had gone up in the lift - there was NO WAY i was getting in an enclosed space with it.

The animal was calm and under control but so big. He absolutely weighed more than me, its head was the same size as mine - I wouldn't stand a chance.

There's no way these owners are buying xl bullys because "they make great pets" - its a status symbol

RedPandaLove · 27/02/2025 15:08

Agree this breed should not be a pet and best to let the breed die out naturally but I wish there could be a kind of sanctuary for these dogs to safely live out the rest of their days without euthanasia 😢😢😢

TheNuthatch · 27/02/2025 15:12

I'm a massive dog lover and owner, but I agree it's time for these dogs to be euthanized. There is clearly something wrong with this breed genetically that cannot be corrected with good training etc. I'm sure there are a few decent owners out there trying to do the right thing. I feel sorry for them, but enough is enough.

I think we need to start being much stricter with dog breeds generally. Nobody needs a mallinois, cane corso, or an enormous bull breed to enjoy pet dog ownership.

KhakiShaker · 27/02/2025 15:12

RedPandaLove · 27/02/2025 15:08

Agree this breed should not be a pet and best to let the breed die out naturally but I wish there could be a kind of sanctuary for these dogs to safely live out the rest of their days without euthanasia 😢😢😢

This. These dogs didn’t ask to be bred. Same for whatever breed comes along and takes their place.

TheWorminLabyrinth · 27/02/2025 15:13

Why is it that we accept particular breeds are good at particular things, apart from when it comes to XLBs. Happy to accept that collies are natural herders, that gundogs are great at flushing out game, that sighthounds are natural chasers and hunters, that retrievers are great at retrieving, but a dog that was designed to attack, maim and kill? Noooo, iTs ThE oWnEr NoT tHe BrEeD. It's just stupidity, pure and simple.

Mayamemsaab1 · 27/02/2025 15:13

I was just about to make a post on this but you beat me to it.
I saw an answer on Reddit which said they can’t think of a solution to the xl bully problem. Of course a massive cull would be the best solution but I don’t think that’s likely to happen. In a country that practically worships dogs, it would probably cause public outrage.

But I just cannot believe that the owners continue to constantly get away with this, when you take into account that this is a country where you can get 4 years just for carrying pepper spray.
I think anyone who owns a dog that kills should be tried for murder. If there were harsher punishments maybe that would deter people from keeping xl bullies as pets.

Has anyone got any petition ideas or something?!

Snowmanscarf · 27/02/2025 15:13

An xl moving into my street would be a reason I would put my house up for sale.

Matrixremooted · 27/02/2025 15:13

If we want to get to the root cause, we need licensing, enforcement, training and insurance.. the licence needs to be v expensive, certainly more than £200 and failure to have a licence leading to a criminal conviction & loss of the dog... which would put it all on par with owning a shotgun.
The licence fee would pay for enforcement, without which, all the laws in the world are pointless.

I agree and up until 1987 you needed a license to own a dog in this country.

OP posts: