Esther Martin.Photo:Essex Police/Facebook
Essex Police/Facebook
Police have confirmed that the two dogs that killed a grandmother in the U.K. while she was visiting her grandson were XL Bullies, a breed that was banned in England and Wales in December 2023.
A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dog offenses and released on bail until March, according to police.
“I know there has been a huge amount of speculation about the breed and type of dog involved here, but it was really important we got that information right and established the facts,” said Chief Superintendent Stuart Weaver in a statement.
He added, “XL Bully is not a breed of dog in itself, but a sub-category of the American bully,” or what’s colloquially known as a Pit Bull.
Essex Police said that they did postmortem examinations on the dogs and consulted an expert who examined their features and determined that the dogs were XL Bullies.
Aspreviously reported, Chief Superintendent Glen Pavelin told the media on Sunday that “both dogs were destroyed inside the house" after the attack.
“That’s when she was attacked,” said Sonia.
When the attack began, Sonia told the BBC that her 11-year-old nephew “ran out of the house screaming for help,” attracting the attention of some neighbors, who tried to “fight off” the dogs with spades.
Sonia also said she believed the dogs were kept in poor conditions, “penned in a small chalet.”
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Previously registered dogs also can’t be in public without a leash or muzzle.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ushered in the ban on the breed after a series of attacks last year, calling the dogs a “danger to our communities," theAssociated Pressreports. But many animal welfare advocates believe the breed is unfairly maligned, and say it wouldn’t be dangerous if not for irresponsible breeding and care,TheGuardianreports.
source: people.com
