Responding to calls to ban American XL bully dogs

This week, in a social media post, Home Secretary Suella Braverman called the American XL bully “a clear and lethal danger” and has commissioned urgent advice on banning the breed.

The statement came after an 11-year-old girl in Bordesley Green, Birmingham was sadly injured by an XL bully dog, the latest in a number of recent cases of dog aggression in which members of the public, or their pets, have sadly suffered injuries, or, in some tragic cases, died.

The Dog Control Coalition, of which the British Veterinary Association is a member, has been responding to media this week, raising awareness of the complexities of banning breeds and outlining the urgent need for the Government to completely overhaul the Dangerous Dogs Act.  

A spokesperson from the Dog Control Coalition said:

“The increased popularity of American XL bullies has made them valuable commodities, resulting in irresponsible breeding, rearing and ownership. However, the solution to the concerning number of dog bite incidents and fatalities is not to ban this or any other breed of dog because a ban would not effectively protect the public. 32 years of the Dangerous Dogs Act, with its focus on banning specific types, coupled with increasing cases of dog bite incidents shows how ineffective this approach is. Instead, the Government needs to focus on the improvement and enforcement of current breeding and dog control regulations, and on promoting responsible dog ownership and training.”

The Dog Control Coalition comprises Battersea, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association, Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club, RSPCA, Scottish SPCA and Hope Rescue.