Yahoo News XL bully ban latest: Updates after weekend of protests from owners
Hundreds gathered in London to protest against the proposed ban of XL bully dogs, hours after another suspected attack
What's happening? Hundreds of pet owners took to the streets of London to protest against the planned ban of American XL bully dogs.
Earlier this month, prime minister Rishi Sunak announced that XL bullies will be banned by the end of this year.
But owners say their dogs are not to blame for recent high-profile attacks, including another just hours before the protest took place.
A man was taken to hospital after being bitten by a suspected American XL bully in a park in south London.
However, one XL bully owner who protested at Westminster the following day said: "I’ve never known a dog so affectionate and soppy."
Read more: Man attacked by suspected American XL bully dog in south London park (Evening Standard)
Yahoo News UK examines the latest developments in the ongoing row over American XL bully dogs...
XL bully dog protests: What happened?
Hundreds of people marched in central London on Saturday to protest against prime minister Rishi Sunak's proposed ban on American XL bully dogs.
Protesters held up signs in Trafalgar Square saying, "Don't bully our bullies" and "Muzzle Rishi".
One demonstrator was pictured wearing a T-shirt with a mocked-up image of the prime minister with a muzzle on. The T-shirt read: "Muzzle Rishi. Don't bully our breed."
The dog owners did not bring their pets to the demonstration.
They chanted "Save our bullies" and "Sit for your dog" during the protest.
One XL bully owner who attended the march, Michelle West, from Northfleet, told Kent Online prior to the demonstration: “I've never known a dog so affectionate and soppy.”
Meanwhile, a man in his 40s was taken to hospital after being bitten on the arm by a suspected American XL bully dog in Pasley Park, Walworth, south London, shortly after 6pm on Friday.
“The owner of the dog left the scene with the dog before officers arrived,” the Metropolitan Police said.
“The dog is believed to have been a grey-coloured XL bully.”
Police are investigating and no arrests have been made.
In another development, a man who stood up for XL bullies on social media was attacked by one of the dogs, it was reported.
Ben Cźyżyk, 38, from Wolverhampton, was bitten by a suspected XL bully on Friday evening, the MailOnline reported.
He was attacked in the Tettenhall area shortly after 10pm.
Just days earlier, he had posted on social media: "Any breed can be taught to be aggressive. It's time we quite blaming the wrong end of the leash."
Read more: XL bully owners protest in London against government’s decision to ban dogs (National World)
Why were they protesting?
Earlier this month, Sunak vowed to ban XL bullies by the end of the year, under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The move was in response to a series of attacks involving suspected American XL bullies.
Sunak's announcement followed the death of Ian Price, 52, who died after he was attacked by two dogs in Stonnall, Staffordshire, in what police said was a suspected XL bully attack.
In another suspected XL bully attack days earlier, an 11-year-old girl was left with serious injuries after she was bitten by a dog in Birmingham.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said last week a “transition period” would be introduced, with details likely to follow a consultation on the plan.
Watch: Rishi Sunak promises to ban 'dangerous' XL bully dogs
Owners could face a requirement to neuter their dogs and muzzle them in public, the government’s chief vet has suggested.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We will need to safely manage the existing population of these dogs. Exactly what that looks like will be a topic for the consultation.
“And there will need to be some sort of transition period.”
The XL bully, which is developed from the American pit bull terrier, is not recognised as a specific breed by the Kennel Club.
There are currently four banned breeds of dog in the UK, according to the list drawn up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra): the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.
Read more: Rishi Sunak says 'dangerous' American Bully XL dog breed to be banned (Daily Echo)
XL bully dog petition continues to grow in support
An online petition to Parliament calling on the government not to ban the XL bully has now reached more than 574,000 signatures.
Parliament considers all petitions that receive more than 100,000 signatures for a debate.
The petition reads: "Bad owners are to blame not the breed - don't ban the XL bully."
American XL bully owner and professional boxer Mark Heffron, 31, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, said his two-year-old dog Tyson is a "big friendly giant" who "loves kids", including his daughter Poppy.
He said: "I don’t think it’s the dogs, it’s the owners that are bringing them up to be nasty, just like any other dog."
Read more: American XL bully owner worries for his dog’s life after Rishi Sunak’s breed ban (The Independent)
What should the public do around dogs?
Vet Lynne James, from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) charity, told Yahoo News UK: “We know the recent headlines are very distressing, but it’s important to remember that the vast majority of dogs in the UK are not dangerous.
“You should always be calm and quiet when interacting with dogs. Never approach an unknown dog without checking with their owner first, and make sure you ask their owner before stroking them.
“Do not approach a dog that is alone outside or running around loose in a garden. If you do see an unaccompanied dog, we recommend you call the council or report the dog online, rather than approaching it, as it may be injured or distressed.
“We also recommend that you never run or shout around an unfamiliar dog."
Read more: What happens if you own an American XL bully and how will the ban work? (PA Media)
