Dangerous Dogs: Expert Warns Banning XL Bully Dogs Won’t Solve the Problem
Recent dog attacks have sparked calls for a ban on XL Bully dogs in the UK. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has voiced her concerns, but leading dog bite expert James McNally, known as ‘The Dog Bite Solicitor,’ believes the issue goes beyond a single breed.
An incident in Birmingham, where an 11-year-old girl and two others were attacked by a rampaging dog, has fueled the debate. Ana Paun, the terrified 11-year-old, shared her horrifying experience of being pounced on by an unleashed dog as she passed a bus shelter.
But James McNally points out that the problem of dangerous dogs in Britain runs deeper than just XL Bully dogs. While his law firm handles approximately 400 dog bite-related claims at any given time, none of them currently involve XL Bullies.
Surprisingly, American Bully XLs make up only a tiny percentage of the canine population but have been responsible for 73% of dog-related deaths in the UK since 2022. Instead, McNally’s clients often suffer bites from legal breeds like Japanese Akitas, Malamute Huskies, Jack Russell Terriers, Greyhounds, and Border Collies.
McNally disagrees with Home Secretary Braverman’s call for adding more breeds to the banned list, stating, “Banning XL Bullies isn’t going to stop dog attacks.” He warns that even if banned, these dogs won’t vanish overnight; new breeds could emerge to bypass the ban.
McNally, from Slee Blackwell Solicitors, suggests that there’s typically a “criminal element” involved in owning violent dogs, as they may provide protection for illicit activities like drug dealing or prostitution. However, the problem arises when these dogs are bred in large numbers and end up in family environments close to children, leading to tragic incidents.
According to McNally, the current legislation on dangerous dogs, which restricts the breeding and sale of certain types, needs a complete overhaul to better protect the public. He proposes that new legislation should focus on controlling and promoting responsible dog breeding and ownership practices as a potential solution.
In the quest to address the issue of dangerous dogs in the UK, it appears that banning specific breeds may not be the ultimate solution, as the problem encompasses a wider range of factors that need careful consideration.