Fatal mauling in East London reignites debate on American XL Bully ban

In the United Kingdom, there has again been a fatal mauling of a person by American XL Bully dogs. The victim is an approximately 50-year-old woman who had two such dogs. Since February of this year, they cannot be owned without a permit.

The incident took place on Monday afternoon in Hornchurch, East London. The police confirmed that the dogs were of the American XL Bully breed and their owner had the required permit to own them.

This is at least the second case of a fatal mauling by dogs of this breed since the ban on owning them without a permit took effect in England and Wales on 1st February (it came into force in Scotland a few weeks later).

Owners who applied for an exemption from the ban before the end of January must have their dogs neutered, covered by liability insurance, and microchipped. They can only walk them in public places with a muzzle and on a leash. According to the British Ministry of Environment, over 35,000 owners of this breed have obtained an exemption from the ban.

However, a significant number of owners ignored the ban—it is estimated that at least several thousand dogs of this breed are illegally possessed. These owners face confiscation of their dogs for euthanasia, unlimited fines, and, in case of a dog attack on a person, also imprisonment.

The ban on owning American XL Bully dogs was introduced last year after several high-profile attacks by this breed on people. According to data cited by the British media, from 2001-2021, there were an average of three fatal dog maulings per year in the United Kingdom, while in 2022-23, there were 23 such incidents, with more than half of them involving the American XL Bully breed.

The American Bully breed was developed in the 1980s, primarily from the American Pit Bull Terrier. The XL is a larger version of the American Bully, weighing over 9 stone. The fifth breed is listed as prohibited in the United Kingdom. In addition, the American Pit Bull Terrier, Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro are also banned.