In London, a woman in her 50s was fatally attacked by her two registered extra-large bully dogs, according to police reports on Tuesday. The tragic incident occurred in Hornchurch, East London, where the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The two dogs were seized after being contained in a room.
Since February 1, owning an extra-large bully breed in England and Wales has been a criminal offence unless one possesses an exemption certificate. Regulations mandate that owners of these dogs have them neutered, micro-chipped, and keep them muzzled and on a lead in public, alongside other restrictions.
The British government’s decision to ban extra-large bullies followed a series of attacks by this larger, more muscular variant of the American Bully breed, which is relatively new. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 16 deaths due to dog attacks in 2023, a significant increase from previous years when the number had been in single figures. As of late 2023, bull breeds comprised around 60% of dogs held in police kennels.
The attack in Hornchurch follows a recent incident where a mother and son were jailed after their extra-large bully attacked an eight-year-old boy, causing severe injuries in a sustained attack.
