Suella Braverman has called for a ban on American Bully XL dogs after an “appalling” attack involving an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham over the weekend was shared online.
Calling them a “clear and lethal danger”, the Home Secretary tweeted: “This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children. We can’t go on like this. I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them.”
The call for advice was initiated last week, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs assigned the responsibility of evaluating whether the Bully XL should be included in the list of prohibited dog breeds in the UK.
The alarming incident has reignited debates about dog breeds, ownership, and public safety. Currently, the UK bans four specific breeds: Pitbull terriers, the Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro.
The American Bully XL breed shares genetic traits with the banned pitbull terrier but isn’t subject to the same legal restrictions. Critics argue that their “hair-trigger response” and “desire to kill” make them a significant threat, especially when mishandled or trained aggressively.
Former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland echoed support of the ban, saying: “I am deeply concerned by the rise of attacks on people, pets and livestock by XL Bully dogs . The government should take action and ban these dogs.”
