Have you ever met an American Bully? Picture a dog with a powerful, muscular build and an eye-catching presence that turns heads wherever it goes. But there’s a twist. While some people can’t get enough of their loyal and friendly nature, others raise eyebrows at stories of aggression and danger.
It’s like the canine version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So, what gives? Why do these dogs inspire such a wide range of emotions and opinions? Recently, this breed was banned in the UK by President Rishi Sunak. The ban, which was a consequence of a series of XL Bully attacks, sparked an ongoing nationwide debate.
We’re here today to take a closer look into this dog breed’s traits and figure out whether or not they’re dangerous as pets.
American XL Bullies As Pets – Lovable or Dangerous?
This might surprise some of you, but American Bullies aren’t one of the older breeds. This relatively recent dog breed was developed as a companion dog in the 1980s with the American Pit Bull Terrier as its foundation breed.
American Bullies gained the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) standard recognition in 2004. These dogs come in four sizes, out of which the XL breeds are the largest, as you can imagine. Their lifespan typically ranges between 8 and 13 years.
American Bullies are a muscular bunch, with a large head, a broad muzzle, and pronounced cheeks. Their short coat lends them a sleek appearance which, combined with their strength and agility, makes them formidable.
As for their temperament, Bullies are known for their loyalty and the ability to form strong, deep bonds with their human families. They’re affectionate, eager to please, gentle with children, and thrive on praises and rewards.
However, like most breeds, the right training is key to raising a well-behaved, sociable American Bully. On the contrary, when not trained well, these strong dogs can easily be dangerous, even deadly.
American XL Bully Ban in The UK – A Closer Look
The proposal to ban American XL Bullies in the UK was first initiated in September 2023, following the death of Ian Price. Price, a 52-year-old resident of Walsall, Staffordshire, encountered two American Bullies in his garden on the morning of September 14.
The dogs – reportedly escaped from the window of another resident’s home – were about to attack Price’s elderly mother when he intervened.
Thereafter, they mauled him to the point where he was covered in injuries.
At around 3 in the afternoon, the injured Price was airlifted to a hospital. Unfortunately, he couldn’t survive the fatal injuries and passed away a few hours later.
The death of Ian Price – alongside other recent XL bully attacks across the country – led PM Rishi Sunak to take definitive action. Calling the breed “a clear and lethal danger” to the community, Sunak commissioned urgent advice on banning them.
The ban on XL Bullies came into effect three months later, on December 31, 2023. It declared the acts of selling, breeding, abandoning, or giving away an American XL Bully illegal for all UK residents. Two months later, on February 1, 2024, owning an XL Bully without an exemption certificate became a criminal offense in the country.
Are American Bullies The Only Threat? The Dangers of Unleashed Dogs on Streets
While the threat of American XL Bullies has been dealt with in the UK, it hasn’t been eliminated globally. From a global standpoint, it’s also true that this breed isn’t the only threat to people. Unleashed pet dogs roaming the streets, regardless of their breed, can also threaten human lives.
While some dog owners believe these canines only act out when provoked, that’s not always the case.
Keith Law Group notes that people don’t ideally plan on being bit by dogs while taking a stroll on the street. Not all dog attacks are a consequence of provocation.
Take the case of Little Rock, for instance. This Arkansas city has been facing the threat of dogs on the streets for decades. In 2023, the threat became even more serious as more and more children started falling prey to it. A 7-year-old became the victim of one such attack in August and had to get dozens of stitches as a consequence.
When this was followed by another attack on a child a month later, Little Rock Animal Services decided to intervene. Their first solution was to educate residents about the leash laws.
While these measures might deter some dog owners, it’s not a foolproof solution. If, as a resident of the city, you ever face the same threat, what would you do? We strongly recommend taking strict actions to set the right example for others.
Wondering what could that be? Pressing a personal injury lawsuit against the dog’s owner is an option. In addition to getting you your rightful compensation, it will also imbibe a sense of fear among reckless dog owners.
If you’re unsure about navigating this path on your own, seek the expert help of a personal injury lawyer in Little Rock. They can simplify the legal aspects for you and even represent your lawsuit in court to receive maximum compensation.
Should American Bullies Be Banned Everywhere?
The debate over whether American Bullies should be banned everywhere is one that elicits strong emotions and varied opinions. In the opinion of the Economist, this breed should indeed be banned globally, but not because of any animosity towards it.
The reason behind this opinion is quite straightforward. While Bullies might have been bred for companionship, their lineage itself is violent and aggressive.
The American Pit Bull Terrier, which happens to be its major parenting breed, was a fighting dog. Pit Bulls were originally bred for bull-baiting and hunting in 19th-century England.
Towards the end of the 1990s, Britain banned these fighting dogs altogether. They also faced restrictions in Denmark, Germany, and thousands of American cities and Canadian provinces.
Therefore, it only makes sense that Bullies, who have predominantly received the same fighting genes, would be dangerous.
All in all, while XL Bullies can be loving pets, the risk of them being trained poorly is too great to leave to chance. Their ban in the UK was a reaction to a series of deadly attacks that cost people permanent damages, and even their lives. If you’re a pet parent looking into bringing home an XL bully, we’d strongly recommend you pick a different breed.
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Azariah 
Joseph