'Banning breeds doesn't protect people' says charity after girl, 10, attacked by XL bully
A group of dog charities has warned that "banning breeds does not protect the public" after a 10-year-old girl was hospitalised by an XL bully attack.
The Dog Control Coalition said the ban on XL bullies, introduced earlier this year, is "not the answer" after the girl was seriously injured when the dog bit her on the neck.
The child was in the garden of a neighbour where the unregistered dog was kept in Balby, Doncaster, on Monday morning when she was attacked.
Warning: Graphic image below some readers may find distressing
South Yorkshire Police said the dog attacked the child and "aggressively ragged their head side to side" and bit her on the neck, causing serious laceration injuries.
The bleeding was controlled and the girl's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, although she was taken to hospital.
A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a banned breed of dog, allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and child neglect.
Two teenagers, aged 13 and 15, were also arrested on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and possession of a banned breed of dog. They have since been released from police custody. The dog was seized and remains in police kennels, the force said.
The Dog Control Trust campaigned against the ban on XL bullies before it came into force at the beginning of this year.
It comprises a number of groups, including the RSPCA, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, the Kennel Club and the British Veterinary Association (BVA), who have voiced their opposition to banning specific breeds.
A spokeswoman for the coalition told Yahoo News UK on Tuesday: "We’re all devastated by tragic incidents involving dogs and we agree there is an urgent need to provide effective protection for the public and try to prevent future dog bites.
"However, banning XL bully types, along with four other types of dogs, is not the answer. There’s a lot of robust evidence which shows that banning breeds does not protect the public from dog bite incidents."
It said it wants the government to tackle the "root causes of aggressive behaviour in dogs" by enforcing breeding and dog control regulations and promoting responsible dog ownership.
XL bully dogs were added to the banned list, which is made up of the Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro, this year.
Since 31 December 2023, it has been illegal to sell, give away, abandon or breed from an XL bully, and since 1 February this year it has been against the law to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate.
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Owners of unregistered dogs can face up to six months in jail and/or an unlimited fine.
South Yorkshire Police issued a shocking image showing the extent of the girl's injuries following the attack in Doncaster.
Chief inspector Emma Cheney said: "This incident could have had a tragic ending and led to a fatality.
“We continue to urge people to stop thinking, ‘It won’t happen to me’. Owners need to step up and be responsible, understand your dog, their behaviour and keep everyone safe.”
How to control your dog
South Yorkshire Police said dog owners should follow simple steps to protect children and other family members, particularly as they will be spending more time with the animals during the school holidays.
It said they should walk their dog on a lead when in public areas; stay on designated footpaths and routes in rural areas; supervise their dog at all times and remember that not everyone likes dogs.
Blue Cross says owners should never leave their dog alone with a child and never allow a child to approach a strange dog.
