Another person is mauled to death

Some years ago, I was walking locally when a woman walked past me struggling to control 2 large, fiece, and (thankfully) muzzled dogs.

Both of them sprung at me, I was merely passing, I did nothing to enrage or frighten them, the snout of one hit my arm really hard and I had a large bruise on it for over a fortnight.

I should, of course, have seen a doctor and registered it with the police, but I was so shocked and relieved that the dogs were muzzled it did not occur to me at the time.

I saw a young lad walking one yesterday. There’s no way he could control a dog of that size but thankfully it was muzzled. I do wonder if the ones that do remain will become some sort of status symbol? For years now our walks have consisted of us constantly being on the alert for potential dangers

Dickens we ordinary people simply don’t see any appeal in xl or other bully mixes
I was out with my spaniel on a walk I’ve been doing for fifty happy years. Round a corner came off lead huge German shepherd dog and his equally huge xbreed friend. Both approached my spaniel who is bomb proof. Riund the corner came their owner with his third dog on lead, an xl bully dog
I put my tiny spaniel on lead and we walked up the slight hill away from them. Msn called his dogs and they left us alone. The xl was on a thin pathetic extendable lead. If my spaniel had reacted to being harassed by the two off lead dogs I don’t believe the handler could have stopped the bully joining his two friends
This was before the ban, a week before

tickingbird

I’ve been told today of a woman with three locked in cages in a back garden. Never taken out for exercise or socialised and are used for breeding. The source is reliable and is going to try to find out an address so we can report.

It makes my blood boil. Not only the selfish, totally irresponsible behaviour but the cruelty to the dogs. It all contributes to the dog’s damaged psyche.

Iam64 It’s not judgemental to tell the truth and it’s about time we stopped thinking it is. There are some people in this world who have no morality beyond what serves them. It’s true that 99% of owners are a certain type and it’s a pity more of them aren’t being attacked by their own dogs. Well deserved.

I’ve been told today of a woman with three locked in cages in a back garden. Never taken out for exercise or socialised and are used for breeding. The source is reliable and is going to try to find out an address so we can report.

The sheer ignorance and arrogance of some individuals defies belief. I hope she can be located and the animals removed from her 'care'.

I am sure that not all owners of these dogs are of the same ilk as this stupid woman - or the 'rapper' living in accommodation that itself is little more than kennel size, but I am with Iam64 - there are too many of these individuals who lack moral integrity, intelligence, as well as the faculty for reasoning, who are in charge of these beasts.

To 'ordinary' people, I have to ask - what the heck is the appeal of these dogs?

I carry a pet spray it makes a hissing noise / my young lab can react to small yappy dogs jumping all over him, stems from two attacks by Jack Russell’s. He’s a lovely gentle boy great witj children and people and with other dogs but he has his limits hence on lead in busy areas. I’m exasperated by idiots who don’t understand they should not let their off lead dogs run up and harrass on lead dogs. It’s not complicated. It’s ok they’re friendly they shout aaargh

BlueBelle

Just a thought I wonder if it’s worths carrying a rape alarm would that stop them in their tracks or is there a legal spray not really a solution I know and shouldn’t have to but just a thought of a way to protect ourselves if the authorities can’t/wont/dont

It's a thought...

Especially if you're on the common or in the park where there are lots of dogs where these arrogant and ignorant-type owners might be among them.

I believe dogs have more sensitive hearing - maybe the noise would be intolerable to them and they'd try to escape it? But who knows?

... and what about other dogs in the vicinity - hardly fair on them.

That it's come to this. Anyone can become a victim.

I’ve been told today of a woman with three locked in cages in a back garden. Never taken out for exercise or socialised and are used for breeding. The source is reliable and is going to try to find out an address so we can report.

It makes my blood boil. Not only the selfish, totally irresponsible behaviour but the cruelty to the dogs. It all contributes to the dog’s damaged psyche.

Iam64 It’s not judgemental to tell the truth and it’s about time we stopped thinking it is. There are some people in this world who have no morality beyond what serves them. It’s true that 99% of owners are a certain type and it’s a pity more of them aren’t being attacked by their own dogs. Well deserved.

Just a thought I wonder if it’s worths carrying a rape alarm would that stop them in their tracks or is there a legal spray not really a solution I know and shouldn’t have to but just a thought of a way to protect ourselves if the authorities can’t/wont/dont

As others have said, the type of people who own these dogs are not going to take any notice of legislation, muzzling, keeping them on the lead etc etc. many of them use the dogs to intimidate and cause fear. Look at the incident in Essex where the owner said nobody tells me what to do with my dogs. His MiL paid the price and he is now supposedly sorry. But look at his photo and it tells you all you need to know.

Chestnut I agree dog ownership needs some kind of legal/civil framework. I’ve had dogs all my life, currently own a lab and a spaniel. For the past 18 years all my dogs including fosters have been taken through KC approved obedience classes.
My young lab remains a work in progress and I’m very careful where he’s off lead, mostly nit because of him but due to the number of off lead out of control badly behaved dogs that jump all over him, no recall etc.
ban hobby breeders, legislate to further investigate and assess any breeder, all breeders to bd registered and inspected annually.

Any pup or rescue bought has to be committed to training classes and I don’t mean six weeks. I don’t believe it’s either enforceable or affordable but it should be

BlueBelle

We agree then tickingbird they do need to be remove completely

I think we'd all like them removed completely but how can that be done unless there is a properly funded licencing system which covers all dogs. This would pay for staff, admin, muzzling, chipping, plus dog fouling issues and XL Bully enforcement. Homes should be checked and owners vetted as they are with the rehoming services. It's a huge social issue, and while most owners may be responsible and sensible there are very many who are not, or even dangerous as we've seen.

It's already been stated that 'removing' them cannot be done as they cannot be identified by DNA. So a licensing system is the only way to take control of this situation.

I hate to say this, but I don't think you are being judgemental, Iam64. There does seem to be a certain type of person who wants this type of dog. We have family members who are police officers, and they have said this time and time again - they are often called out to deal with incidents (not necessarily involving the dogs directly) and found it no surprise that the type of people they are dealing with have these dogs. I have a friend who is a dog walker and trainer and she had also said the same about their characteristics as well.

At the risk of sounding horribly judgemental - I’ll risk it - I see these dogs in certain areas with certain people
I know one lovely sensible young woman who has an xl. Her boyfriend bought it as a surprise 19 birthday gift
She’s from a family with long involvement in running good training groups. She brought her pup from four months. She muzzle trained it and had it castrated got an exemption cert. Hers the only xl I’ve seen at trainibg groups
My trainer friends say before the ban they were called on to train xl dogs many times their advice -your dog shouldn’t be living in your family I can’t train the breed characteristics out of it

We agree then tickingbird they do need to be remove completely

BlieBelle

I really think we all know the history tickingbird how they are ‘manmade’ by breeding the worst of the worst and that they first were imported from the US that has been talked about previously but what are your ideas of how to stop this carnage surely that’s the important question

Obviously not everyone does know or erroneous comments wouldn’t be posted.

As for my ideas on solving the problem, I’ve already posted up thread earlier today. I will add that dog licences won’t make the slightest difference, these dogs need to be removed carte blanche.

tickingbird

This is totally out of control now. As a dog lover and active in animal welfare, even I believe every one of these dogs should be humanely euthanised. There is quite obviously something genetically wrong with these dogs and coupled with irresponsible owners it has become far to dangerous to allow them in the UK.

The reason they probably have not done this is because they can’t actually prove what dogs are xl bully there are no DNA markers. Tens of thousands of dogs could fall under the Defra description just because the way they look.
The Dog Control Coalition in their response to the ban make this The Dog Control Coalition comprises Battersea, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association, Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club, RSPCA, Scottish SPCA and Hope Rescue.

Animals as pets - a whole other discussion?

Iam64

What a strange advert- it seems they want xl bullies as their client base. I’m sure I’m not alone in knowing I’d avoid that place

It says something about their client base, perhaps?

tickingbird

This is totally out of control now. As a dog lover and active in animal welfare, even I believe every one of these dogs should be humanely euthanised. There is quite obviously something genetically wrong with these dogs and coupled with irresponsible owners it has become far to dangerous to allow them in the UK.

I agree, tickingbird.

Iam64

What a strange advert- it seems they want xl bullies as their client base. I’m sure I’m not alone in knowing I’d avoid that place

I hope there's a big fence round the perimeter. And gates!

I really don’t care if there are incorrect stories about their jaws, their mouths are big enough to get a child’s head in and
I really think we all know the history tickingbird how they are ‘manmade’ by breeding the worst of the worst and that they first were imported from the US that has been talked about previously but what are your ideas of how to stop this carnage surely that’s the important question

When people talk about Bull breeds they really don’t know the history of these dogs.

Bulldogs ie Winston Churchill Bulldogs are the most placid, laidback breed. You will never hear of one of these attacking anyone. However, they are strong and tenacious but not excitable or easily spooked by anything. They are rubbish guard dogs. Yes they were bred to hang onto a bull and stubbornly refuse to let go. It was difficult to get them to fight because they are too slow to rouse to aggression. Therefore, they were crossed with a terrier to create the earliest Bull-terrier. These XL Bullies have been created in the US, the same as the pit bull. They aren’t British dogs and have very little, if any, relation to a British Bulldog or Bull-terrier. Additionally there is no such thing as lockjaw. No dog has jaws that lock.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-68267358

The boy has injuries described as "life-changing".

For how much longer are we to tolerate these random attacks?

This is totally out of control now. As a dog lover and active in animal welfare, even I believe every one of these dogs should be humanely euthanised. There is quite obviously something genetically wrong with these dogs and coupled with irresponsible owners it has become far to dangerous to allow them in the UK.

It’s awful isn’t it every time I see one my heart goes in my mouth even when they are on a lead