A 10-YEAR-OLD girl has been rushed to hospital after an attack from an unregistered XL Bully left her with horror injuries.
The dangerous beast bit the schoolgirl in the neck at a property in Balby, Yorkshire, with cops arresting a woman, 37, and two teenagers, aged 13 and 15.
Emergency services rushed to the property at 10.15am today, after it was reported a child was in a neighbour’s garden where the banned dog was living.
The beast went on to grab the child’s head and swing it side to side, before causing deep wounds to the child’s neck, said cops.
Fortunately the bleeding was quickly controlled before the girl was rushed to A&E.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
The woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a banned breed of dog, allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and child neglect.
The two teens were arrested on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and possession of a banned breed of dog.
The pair of schoolkids have since been released from custody, confirmed South Yorkshire police.
The force seized the dog at the scene and it remains in police kennels.
Chief Inspector Emma Cheney said: “This incident could have had a tragic ending and led to a fatality.
“We continue to urge people to stop thinking ‘it won’t happen to me’.
“Owners need to step up and be responsible, understand your dog, their behaviour and keep everyone safe.”
Since 31 December 2023, it has been against the law to sell, give away, abandon or breed from an XL bully.
And since 1 February 2024, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully without a certificate of exemption.
The breed was outlawed after it was accused of being behind the deaths of 11 people in just three years.
After eleven horrific attacks in 1991, Home Secretary Kenneth Baker promised “to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs” by introducing the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The law is often considered controversial as it focuses on a dog’s breed or looks instead of an individual dog’s behaviour, and fails to stem the rise of dog attacks.
According to the RSPCA, over a third of the people killed by dogs since the act was brought in were attacked by legal breeds.
The hounds are said to be “disproportionately involved” in serious and fatal dog attacks.
All XL Bullies must be registered and must have a muzzle on if they’re out in public.
Owners and their dogs now face strict punishments without a certificate.
However, even if the beast is registered owners must prove the dog is neutered by June 30 – or the end of 2024 if it’s a puppy – to meet the rules.
It’s thought between 50,000 and 100,000 of the hounds live across the country.
People with dangerously out-of-control dogs can be jailed for up to 14 years, while their pets could be put down.
Woman in her 50s mauled to death at home by two XL Bully dogs in Hornchurch, East London on May 21, 2014.
Esther Martin, 68, was looking after her grandson in Jaywick, Essex, when dogs Bear and Beauty attacked her on February 3, 2024.
Ian “Scouse” Langley, 54, was protecting his puppy when the animal pounced on him outside a home in Sunderland in October 2023.
Ian Price, 52, was viciously savaged in September 2023 by the beasts as he tried to protect his elderly mum from them after they escaped.
Jonathan Hogg, 37, was killed in May 2023 entered the dog’s pen when it went for him, leaving bite wounds on his arm, leg and head.
Natasha Johnston, 28, was mauled to death while walking a pack of dogs in January 2023 was believed to have been killed by her own pet – an American Bully XL.
Shirley Patrick, 83, died 17 days after being mauled in a “hellish”, violent dog attack in December 2022.
Ian Symes, 34, who was known to friends as “Wiggy”, died at a recreation ground in Fareham, Hampshire, after the savage attack in August 2022.
Joanne Robinson, 43, was fatally mauled by pet Rocco at her home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire in July 2022.
Keven Jones, 62, went into cardiac arrest after being bitten by Cookie-Doe at Chanel Fong’s home in Wrexham, North Wales in May 2022.
Bella-Rae Birch, one, was mauled to death in March 2022 at her home by the American Bully XL.
Jack Lis, 10, was killed by a hulking XL Bully dog named Beast in November 2021 as he played at friend’s home in Caerphilly.
