Of the 10 fatal dog attacks in the UK last year, more than half involved a bully XL. But plenty of British owners love the breed. Should it be better regulated – or outright banned?
  • giant_smeeg@feddit.ukEnglish
    171·
    3 years ago

    Just look at the people on social media defending the dogs/attacks and that will tell you all you need to know.

  • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.ukEnglish
    11·
    3 years ago

    The numbers look bad:

    In 2021, there were four fatal dog attacks, two of which involved a bully XL. In 2022, there were 10 fatal attacks and six of them involved a bully XL. These huge animals, which can weigh more than 60kg (almost nine and half stone) were also involved in at least two of the five deaths recorded this year.

    …

    Given that there are an estimated 13m pet dogs in Britain, and only a few thousand American bully XLs, there have been calls to ban what looks like an uncontrollable breed.

    I’m sure the owners quoted are able to give them all the training and exercise they need but clearly some aren’t or can’t or just get caught off-guard and, given the size of them, once they go at you, you’re in trouble.

  • Adramis [he/him]@beehaw.orgEnglish
    111·
    3 years ago

    I think this guy from the article has the best take:

    Marsden has handled dogs since the age of seven, and following a long career as a stockman in agriculture, has spent most of his life around working dogs, training collies, lurchers and greyhounds. “I think there is a growing problem now with owners not taking responsibility for their dog’s actions,” he says.

    “Not everyone understands how to train them properly.”

    He says there have been similar concerns about potentially dangerous breeds over the years, such as rottweilers and dobermans, and that banning a breed may only shift attention on to a new one. “You take these off people and the likelihood is they’ll just move on to something else.”

    What’s the alternative? “We need to look at getting more licensed breeding, so there is more oversight into where these puppies are coming from … People are bringing dogs in from other countries where regulations aren’t the same as they are in the UK.”

  • echo @ feddit.uk@feddit.ukEnglish
    7·
    3 years ago

    I love dogs of all breeds and sizes and I’m sure most of the time these are fine to be around. But this breed literally only exists to circumvent the exists banned breeds laws so I don’t understand why the list can’t be updated to include them.

  • C4d@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    3 years ago

    Saw one of these on the train recently, sprawled out in the ground. As big as a person; I thought someone had fallen over and was about to offer help.

  • lemonflavoured@kbin.social
    41·
    3 years ago

    They should be banned and confiscated. By armed police if necessary.

    We also need stronger restrictions on dog ownership more generally.

  • Twiglet@feddit.ukEnglish
    2·
    3 years ago

    Dog breeding needs to be better regulated across the board. There are too many breeds that shouldn’t exist simply because they are in pain from birth. Deformed, disabled, with genetic faults that leave them to horrendous and painful deaths way beyond their years, yet people are fine with intentionally breeding them because ‘lol, so cute!’.

    Before these guys, there was Staffies being heralded as demon dogs. Before that, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Alsatians… So I’m not jumping on the hate train, simply because I don’t know enough.

    Just like torture breeding shouldn’t exist neither should irresponsible (backyard) breeding, - when you just go for looks over temperament and health this is the kinda shit you end up with.