British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on September 15 that American XL bully dogs would be banned in the United Kingdom by the end of the year. This decision comes in response to a recent fatal attack and a series of serious incidents involving these dogs, prompting concerns about public safety.
The move to prohibit American XL bully dogs follows a harrowing attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham just last week. The girl was walking to the shops with her sister when one of these stocky and muscular dogs attacked her. Thankfully, she survived, but the incident sent shockwaves throughout the nation.
In a video message, Prime Minister Sunak expressed his deep concern about the escalating pattern of dog attacks.
"It's clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs; it's a pattern of behavior, and it cannot go on," he stated firmly.
The urgency to ban these dogs intensified after a fatal incident occurred on September 13 in central England, where an individual was killed in an attack involving a suspected XL bully dog. Law enforcement has already arrested a man on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with this tragedy.
Campaign group Bully Watch, which advocates for stricter regulations on XL bully dogs, revealed that this breed was responsible for more than half of all fatal dog attacks in Britain last year. Originating from American pit bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers, XL bully dogs arrived in the UK around 2014 or 2015 and have seen a rapid increase in numbers over recent years.
To effectively implement the ban, Prime Minister Sunak has sought input from both the police and experts to precisely define XL bully dogs. This crucial step is expected to pave the way for the ban to be enforced by the end of the year.
However, not everyone is in favor of a breed-specific ban. Several British animal welfare charities, including the RSPCA, have argued that targeting specific dog breeds is not the solution. Instead, they point to "irresponsible breeding, rearing, and ownership" as the root causes of such incidents and urge the government to focus on comprehensive dog control regulations and promoting responsible dog ownership and training.
As the ban on American XL bully dogs takes shape, it remains a contentious issue, sparking debate about the best approach to ensure public safety while addressing the complex issue of dog attacks in the UK.
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