A woman is in hospital with life-changing injuries after a suspected XL Bully attack in Bristol.
The woman, in her 40s, was bitten by the dog at a home in Sutton Avenue at about 4.15pm today.
Officers used protective shields when storming the home.
Are XL bullies banned in the UK?
The XL bully, a relatively new dog breed in Britain, has been banned since Feburary 1, 2024, following an increase in fatal dog attacks.
The breed is a mix of pit bull and other terriers as well as bulldogs. As the ‘XL’ suggests, they can weigh a hefty 60kg and measure 20 inches from the ground to their shoulders.
People who already owned the breed when the ban came into effect were allowed to keep them as long as they had applied for a certificate of exemption by January 31, 2024.
The dogs must also be neutered, kept in a secure place where they can’t escape, muzzled and kept on a lead in public. Owners must be 16 or older and have third-party public liability insurance cover.
It is illegal to breed, buy, sell, adopt, rehome or abandon the breed.
At least 23 people have been killed by an XL bull, XL bully cross or pit bull terrier since November 2021, according to advocacy group Bully Watch.
The woman was sent to the hospital by land ambulance.
‘The dog is secured at the property and officers remain at the scene pending the arrival of specialist dog handlers,’ the police said.
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