Latest news with #AmericanBullyXL
New York Post
12-05-2025
- New York Post
After Penny the Chihuahua's pit bull mauling, NY should hold bad owners responsible and look to ban dangerous breeds
After an ambush by two out-of-control pit bulls sent a beloved pet to intensive care, it's time to bring New York's worst dog owners to heel — and look at banning the most dangerous breeds altogether. Two massive pitties viciously mauled 16-pound Chihuahua Penny in an unprovoked attack, only letting go when the victim's owner pried open one dog's jaws with a cane. Another local claims the same dogs attacked her two shih tsu mixes in January, killing one — with zero consequences, since the law doesn't hold owners accountable for their pets' behavior. And the pit-bull owners allegedly dragged one bystander who jumped into help by the hair and trashed the phone of another who started recording — then fled the scene when the bloody attack was over. City Councilwoman Gale Brewster and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar are working on bills to hold negligent owners criminally responsible when their dogs attack; Rajkumar's measure would also make it a crime to flee the scene. That's a step in the right direction, but the city should look to get the most dangerous canines off the streets for good. Some dogs are simply more likely to cause serious harm; that's why the City Housing Authority bans full- or -mixed breed Doberman Pinchers, pit bulls and Rottweilers from its properties. In 2023, England and Wales banned breeding, selling or giving away American Bully XL dogs, which were responsible for at least six of the 10 fatal UK dog attacks in in 2022. Of course it's not just the breed, but training dogs to fight is already illegal in New York. Maybe the NYPD needs to look at this as a quality-of-life issue, and crack down on underground dog-fighting rings. When pets become a menace, it's the people who need to be held accountable.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
City XL Bully hunt continues after police shooting
Police in Sheffield have been hunting for an XL Bully which went missing after force marksmen opened fire on it last week. BBC News spoke to people in one park as police urged city residents to remain "vigilant". Weston Park in spring is a riot of colour with flowers blooming and blossom creating a colourful spectacle on trees in the green space. It feels like a world away from the scenario which saw police shoot at an XL Bully after it became aggressive as they investigated a report of gunshots. Martin Colclough is walking his dog along the path in park, which is about half a mile from the initial incident. Rather than his own safety, his primary worry is for the missing canine. "It's quite concerning that the poor dog is running loose with no-one knowing where it is, wounded," he says. "I wouldn't expect it to be much danger if it's been shot. It's looking for somewhere to heal now." Another park user told me that if the dog had been injured, then it would be scared, so more care was needed. But, she adds: "I'm not necessarily scared of the dog". South Yorkshire appears to have an issue with problem dogs generally and the XL Bully specifically. The county's police regularly tell the media about incidents with the breed. Last week, they issued a note explaining that two dogs, an XL Bully and a mixed breed, were shot dead by police after a horse was reportedly bitten in the North Anston area of Rotherham on 31 March. On Thursday, the force said the incident was one of 18 dangerous dogs cases reported to it in the space of three days. There have been many others. Almost a year ago, a total of 22 animals were also seized from a suspected illegal XL Bully breeding farm. BBC research discovered that 226 dogs were destroyed by the force between January and August last year. That was almost double the next highest force, West Yorkshire, with 129. A police spokesperson said at the time of the incident in which the XL Bully escaped that shooting a dog was "never a decision taken lightly". "During what was already a challenging incident, and the risk posed, the decision was made to shoot the dog to progress finding a suspect and weapon and protecting our communities," the force added. Back in the park, Coleen McDonald tells me action needed to be taken if the dog was threatening people and if she saw it on the loose, she would be "really scared". "If it had been threatening people then they've got to shoot it," she says. Matthew Barber recognises the issue that many people feel about the XL Bully breed: "They're really powerful these dogs. They could kill a human without any problem." Since 31 December 2023, it has been against the law to sell, give away, abandon or breed them. Ownership of American Bully XL dogs is restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. But Ms McDonald and Mr Barber put the nature of the dog down to how it is trained. "It's how they're brought up sometimes, that's the biggest problem. Some are brought up to be vicious, it's not the dog's fault half of the time," Mr Barber says. "They've just got to bring laws in and prosecute the owners. They've got to be really tough with them and get it under control." Ms McDonald adds: "When they're badly treated, they don't know better. "It's a shame because all animals are really lovely." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. City-wide hunt for XL Bully missing after shooting XL Bully flees after armed police try to shoot it What are the rules for having an XL bully dog? South Yorkshire Police
