6 tragic incidents involving American XL bully dogs
LONDON, UK: The American bully, a modern dog breed created as a mix between American pit bull terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier in the late 1990s, have long been deemed controversial due to its involvement in several tragic dog attacks, especially in the UK.
The breed usually comes in four categories - pocket, standard, classic and XL. According to The Guardian, American XL bullies were responsible for half of the dog-related human deaths in the UK between 2021 and June 2023.
Bully Watch, a London-based group which campaigns to implement controls on the breed, told the BBC that the breed has been linked to 14 deaths since 2021.
Following two recent suspected American XL bully attacks in Staffordshire and Birmingham, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for the breed to be banned in the country by the end of the year.
Amid the ongoing situation, here's a look at some of the most tragic incidents involving American XL bully dogs.
Jack Lis, 10, was mauled to death by an American XL bully
On November 8, 2021, 10-year-old Jack Lis was mauled to death by an American XL bully named Beast in Caerphilly, Wales.
The dog was reportedly bought by Brandon Hayden, 19, on November 3, that same year, and was taken care of by him and his friend, Amy Salter, 29.
On the day of the attack, Hayden reportedly brought Beast back to his house from a walk after Salter went to work.
Lis was reportedly outside his house "playing with a friend" before being invited to see the dog. As per Manchester Evening News, no adults were present during Lis' visit to Beast.
The boy was initially nervous of visiting the dog but was assured he would be safe. After Lis approached Beast to give him a stroke, the latter pounced on the him and fatally attacked the 10-year-old.
Lis' provisional cause of death was ruled as "severe injuries to the head and neck" at the Newport Coroner's Court, as per the BBC.
The coroner also mentioned that circumstances surrounding Jack's death were "violent and unnatural" and opened a formal inquest surrounding his death.
Hayden and Amy Salter were sent to jail for four-and-a-half and three years, respectively, after being convicted of being in charge of the "out-of-control dog."
The dog was also shot to death by officials on the day of Lis' attack, in order to prevent him from attacking others.
After PM Sunak's call for a ban on American XL bullies, Lis' mother, Emma Whitfield, tweeted, "I'm sobbing. I'm sat on my own sobbing. I don't even have words right now."
Bella-Rae Birch, 1, died after being attacked by her family's pet American XL bully
On March 21, 2022, 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch died after being attacked by an American XL bully at her own home in St Helens, Merseyside.
The attack took place only a week after Birch's family bought the dog, who was reportedly "humanely destroyed" after the incident.
Despite receiving medical attention, Birch was pronounced dead at Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Her cause of death was later ruled as "head trauma."
Later reports revealed that the animal involved in the attack was a legally bred American XL bully, not subject to any prohibitions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 at the time.
Joanne Robinson, 43, was killed by her pet American XL bully
On July 16, 2022, Joanne Robinson, a 43-year-old mother of two, was killed at her own home in Rotherham, after being fatally attacked by one of her two pet American XL bully dogs.
As per Yorkshire Live, Robinson reportedly arrived home after a night out when she was pinned down on the floor and fatally attacked by her dog named Rocco.
Her partner Jamie Stead, 42, who tried to pull away the dog, suffered serious injuries to his face, hands and chest.
The dog reportedly attacked Robinson after it "turned mad in the extreme heat," per the Daily Mail. The Yorkshire mother died at the scene of the attack.
Robinson's mother, Dot, later revealed that Rocco previously fought with their other dog Lola and said that she previously warned her daughter to "get rid of one of them."
Ian Symes, 34, was mauled to death while walking an American XL bully through a park
On August 10, 2022, Ian Symes, a 34-year-old professional dog walker, popularly known was "Wiggy," died at the scene after being mauled to death by an American XL bully in Fareham, Hampshire.
Symes was dog-walking through a recreational park before being fatally attacked by the dog. The bully, named Kong, was reportedly a "super-breed" and "powerful" dog who had "pure muscle" and weighed around 52 kgs.
He was reportedly looking after the dog for a friend who bought the canine the previous day over Snapchat without any paperwork.
According to The Mirror, the dog was not "socialized" and soon overpowered Symes. It allegedly punctured his jugular vein, "crushed his voice box", caused "widespread mangling", and "ragged" him around on the ground.
At an inquest hearing, Coroner Sarah Whitby claimed "Mr Symes engaged in some play with Kong who responded with default behaviour aggression and bit his neck and torso repeatedly, severing the voice box and puncturing all four major blood vessels of the neck and severely damaging his spinal column," The News reported.
Natasha Johnston, 28, is believed to have been killed by her own American XL bully
On January 12, 2023, Natasha Johnston, a 28-year old dog walker, was mauled to death after being attacked while walking eight dogs in Surrey, England.
An inquest revealed she died from "multiple penetrating bites to the neck" while Surrey Police said she died of shock and haemorrhage, including a wound to her left jugular vein, per Your Local Guardian.
According to the Daily Mail, officials confirmed that all eight dogs were seized and mentioned that one of the dogs euthanized for the attack was believed to be an American XL bully, belonging to Johnston herself.
Ian Price, 52, died after being attacked by American XL bully dogs
One of the most recent dog attacks that prompted PM Sunak to call for a ban on American XL bully dogs, killed 52-year-old Ian Price.
According to the BBC, Price suffered multiple injuries after being attacked by two suspected American XL bully dogs in Stonnall, near Walsall, Staffordshire.
As per The Independent, Price was repportedly protecting his elderly mother after the two suspected XL bullies allegedly entered their garden.
The father-of-two was airlifted to hospital after the attack but ultimately succumbed to the wounds. One of the dogs involved in the attack reportedly died after being restrained while another died after being given an injection by a vet.