July 2nd 2023.
South Yorkshire Police have released a shocking video of an American XL bully chasing an officer during a raid – as a warning to owners of the dogs. The bodycam footage shows the officers heading towards an open door at the house, shouting ‘out now’, before the huge dog runs straight out and attempts to attack them.
The number of incidents has more than doubled in the last five years, with 77 dangerous dog-related incidents in 2018, compared to 180 in the first six months of this year. Assistant Chief Constable Dan Thorpe said: “XL Bully dogs account for 25% of all of the dogs seized by South Yorkshire Police since January 2022 and that number is rapidly increasing. We have already seen a fatality in South Yorkshire which has devastated the victim’s loved ones and the wider community. We can’t ignore the fact that the XL bully breed is disproportionately represented in the number of dog attacks we attend.”
XL Bully breeds, not currently on the Dangerous Dogs list, have been responsible for a number of fatal dog attacks this year within the UK. ACC Dan Thorpe added: “There is a harsh reality to this. We have had incidents in South Yorkshire where XL Bully dogs have caused serious injury to children and adults. A woman in South Yorkshire bought two dogs that she believed to be XL Bully breed, believing them to be ‘gentle giants’. Those dogs turned on her in her home and caused fatal injuries. XL Bully dogs seem to have a high propensity for aggression and once they turn, even the most experienced owners have limited ability to do anything about it due to the power and strength of the breed. It’s essential the public are aware of the risks.”
Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Over the last few months I have become increasingly concerned about the number of reports of dog attacks causing significant injuries and sometimes even fatalities. This doesn’t seem to be just a problem in South Yorkshire but is happening all over the country. During the pandemic, the number of dogs nationally rose from 9 million to over 12 million, with many people buying dogs for the first time with no prior experience, a lack of socialisation, and no access to dog training classes during that time. These lockdown puppies have now grown into mature dogs and we are seeing the consequences. Some of the statistics are frightening – 2022 was the worst year nationally for deaths caused by dogs and there are several incidents a day involving dogs in South Yorkshire. The statistics are startling.”
South Yorkshire Police are urging people to be mindful of the risks and dangers posed by XL Bully breeds, especially around children. ACC Dan Thorpe said: “Please be mindful of them at all times and think about what you tell your children about them. We have seen too many devastating injuries from these dogs, life-changing injuries to both adults and young children, so gruesome we are not able to share them with the public. Don’t let this happen to you or your child.”
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