Shocking Encounter: Schoolgirl Attacked by XL Bully Dog
In a startling incident in Birmingham, 11-year-old Ana Paun found herself in a terrifying situation as she was viciously attacked by an XL Bully dog while heading to a local corner shop. The encounter left Ana fearing for her life.
The horrifying episode unfolded when Ana passed a bus shelter, where the unleashed dog was lying on the ground. Without warning, the dog leaped towards her, sinking its teeth into her arm.
Video footage captured the chaotic aftermath, with several witnesses stepping in bravely to intervene. A man in a green tank top briefly managed to restrain the rampaging dog, but it soon broke free and attacked another man nearby. This second victim was chased into a Texaco petrol station, where he fell to the ground.
Ana recounted her terrifying experience, stating, “I thought it was going to attack my face and neck, and that I was going to die. I kept screaming and screaming – I was petrified.” After the ordeal, Ana returned home from the hospital with severe injuries to her left arm, chest, shoulder, hands, and legs.
Expressing her gratitude, Ana said, “I am so thankful to the two men who helped fight the dog off. They suffered worse injuries than me.”
The incident gained public attention when Suella Braverman shared footage of the attack on Twitter. Braverman voiced her intention to outlaw American XL Bully dogs, which have been associated with nine deaths, including three children, since 2021. She labeled them as “a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children” and announced plans to seek advice on banning them.
West Midlands Police reported that the dog involved in the Birmingham attack was taken to a local vet for examination before being placed in secure kennels. The owner of the dog was contacted by officers. It was revealed that the schoolgirl victim had been discharged from the hospital.
The same dog had reportedly attacked an elderly woman just a week prior to the incident, according to a witness.
XL Bully dogs are bred from a combination of dogs, with the American pit bull terrier being a predominant contributor. The American pit bull terrier was declared illegal in Britain in 1991. Bully Watch UK, a campaign group, has documented 351 attacks by this breed in the current year alone. They highlight that 43 percent of all dog attacks involve large bully breeds, despite these breeds making up a small portion of all dogs in the UK.