American XL Bully dogs could be banned in the U.K. by the end of the year, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Friday, after many such dogs attacks were registered in the country. “The American XL Bully dog is a danger to our communities, particularly our children. I share the nation’s horror at recent videos we’ve all seen. Yesterday, we saw another suspected XL Bully dog attack, which has tragically led to a fatality,” Sunak said.
When the breed is added to the banned dogs list, it means it is illegal for anyone in the UK to own, breed, or sell them. Originating in the United States in the 1980s, the American XL Bully is a cross between the American Pit Bull Terrier (Pitbull) and the American Staffordshire Terrier. The dogs have a muscular build and a heavier bone structure than pit bulls.Their temperament is unpredictable.The American Bulldog is also not officially recognized as a breed by the U.K.’s Royal Kennel Club. The pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo argentino and fila brasileiro are currently banned in the U.K. In the U.K., the owners of a banned dog could face up to 14 years in prison “if a person dies as a result of being injured” from an attack.
