A Liverpool MP and Labour front bencher has backed a proposed move to ban XL Bully dogs.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the American Bully XL dog will be banned by the end of the year. Mr Sunak said the breed is “a danger to our communities” following a spate of recent attacks involving the breed.
Speaking last week, he said he has tasked experts to define the breed of dog before it can be banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement, Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, said she couldn’t see a justification for not taking action. She said, “American XL Bully dogs are incredibly dangerous.
“At this point, we do have to acknowledge these dogs are too dangerous to be pets, as upsetting as this is for people who own them.
“While I completely understand that not all these dogs will necessarily end up attacking someone, it is undeniable that they are a threat to people – especially children and anyone who is classed as more vulnerable. I just can’t see how we can justify not taking urgent action – no one else should have to lose a member of their family before we decide to do something about this issue.”
Outlining plans to ban the XL Bully dog breed in a video statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, the Prime Minister said, “The American XL Bully dog is a danger to our communities, particularly our children.
“I share the nation’s horror at the recent videos we’ve all seen. Yesterday we saw another suspected XL Bully dog attack, which has tragically led to a fatality.
“It is clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs, it’s a pattern of behaviour and it cannot go on. While owners already have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control, I want to reassure people that we are urgently working on ways to stop these attacks and protect the public.
“Today I have tasked ministers to bring together police and experts, to firstly define the breed of dog behind these attacks, with the view to then outlawing it.”
Image: Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree. Credit: David Woolfall CC BY 3.0
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