American Bully XL breed should be banned, says South Holland and Deepings MP Sir John Hayes

MP Sir John Hayes has called for a ‘bad breed’ of dog to be banned in this country.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Sir John called for ‘an urgent statement from the Government’ about the American XL Bully, a crossbreed of the American Staffordshire terrier or American pit bull with various types of bulldogs.

Citing three people who have been killed by the dogs, he said: “Regretfully, the subject of dangerous dogs is salient again.

“Deep regrets born of the most tragic events; just last month a 37-year-old man was killed in Greater Manchester; 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch was killed last year, and just before that, 10-year-old Jack Lis.

“They were all killed by so-called Bully dogs—the American XL Bully.

“We need an urgent statement from the Government, not to debate the matter, but simply to confirm that that bad breed, bred to kill, should be banned.”

This is not ther first time the South Holland and the Deepings MP has raised concerns about the American XL Bully.

Earlier this month he wrote to the Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ask ‘whether her department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of banning the (a) sale and (b) breeding of American bully XL dogs’.

A response from parliamentary under secretary Trudy harrison, read: “Defra’s Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce group involving the police, local authorities and NGOs (non-Government organisations) is currently considering how best to manage public safety risks relating to dogs.

“We currently have no plans to ban the sale or breeding of American bully XL dogs.”