U.K. government may ban American XL bully dogs after a child was attacked

This Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 photo shows pit bulls playing together at the Sepulveda Basin Dog Park in the Encino section of Los Angeles. Britain's home secretary said Monday she is seeking "urgent advice" on banning a type of American Bully dog, highlighting an attack on a 11-year-old girl over the weekend. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

LONDON — Britain's home secretary said Monday she is seeking "urgent advice" on banning a type of American Bully dog, highlighting an attack on a 11-year-old girl over the weekend.

Suella Braverman said she has commissioned advice on outlawing XL Bully dogs after police said they were investigating an incident in the central English city of Birmingham on Saturday, when a girl was injured by one of the dogs. Two men who intervened were also injured.

"This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children," Braverman wrote on social media. "We can't go on like this."

Police said the incident took place on a busy road after the dog broke free from its owner. The girl sustained serious injuries to her shoulders and forearms, and was recovering after hospital treatment. The animal was seized by officers and officials will consider what to do with the animal, police added.

For months, some campaigners have been calling for a ban on the XL Bully, which was originally bred from the American pitbull terrier.

Emma Whitfield, the mother of a 10-year-old boy who died after he was mauled by an XL Bully in Wales in 2021, questioned why authorities haven't acted sooner.

"Where were you when my son was killed?," she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Where were you when I was at Parliament asking for change? Nowhere. If you're going to do something, please do it."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office said it took the issue "extremely seriously" but did not provide more details on the proposed law change.

Four breeds of dogs are currently banned in the U.K., including the pitbull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo Argentino and the fila Brasileiro.

The Dangerous Dogs Act also prohibits owners from allowing their dog to be "dangerously out of control," which can be punished by fines and prison sentences of up to 14 years in serious cases.

The XL Bully is not recognized as a specific breed by the U.K.'s Kennel Club, which has argued that no breed of dog is inherently dangerous. The organization says breed-specific bans do not address the most important factors contributing to biting incidents, primarily irresponsible dog owners who train their dogs to be aggressive.

The bully breeds get their name because they were originally used in blood sports, such as bull baiting. The dogs have a muscular build and a heavier bone structure than pit bulls.