Bully XL attacks councillor's guide dog

Prospective MP calls for action

A senior Torbay councillor whose guide dog suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a Bully XL is calling for more appropriate regulation of the breed.

Cllr Steve Darling, who leads the Liberal Democrats on Torbay Council and is standing as the party's candidate in the forthcoming general election, is writing to MP Suella Braverman after his guide dog Jennie was savaged by a young bully XL last month.

Jennie received a nasty injury to her neck and it took four people to pull the dog off. Mr Darling also received light injuries.

He said: “The UK Government need to deal with owners whose dogs are dangerously out of control and pose a risk regardless of their breed. We need action against XL Bully breeders who are using these dogs for profit.

"We need more effective enforcement and early interventions - which bring dogs to the attention of law enforcement earlier if there is concern about their behaviour before it escalates. We also need to work with people to prevent incidents from happening but in addition to tough sentences to punish and deter those who use dogs to harm other people.

"The law shouldn't focus on certain types of dogs - but instead deal with aggression in all dogs, with the response tailored on a case by case basis. Only then can we properly protect the public and other dogs from aggressive behaviour in all dogs.

"We cannot and should not keep adding dogs to the banned list - we need a fundamental change to the law on dogs acting dangerously to protect the public now and in the future.”

In light of the prevalence of dog attacks in Torbay, Mr Darling is also undertaking a survey to vets locally regarding dog attacks.

Jennie was badly injured in Bully XL attack

This article was amended on 30 November to clarify that Mr Darling is not calling for Bully XLs to be banned. In line with the policy of the RSPCA and Dogs Trust, he is calling for more appropriate regulation of the breed.