American Bully XL: Tory MP calls on dog breed which killed Fareham man to be banned

By Tom Morton
Published 15th Jun 2023, 13:54 BST
Updated 15th Jun 2023, 13:54 BST
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The Government must urgently ban a breed of dog ‘bred to kill’, a Conservative former minister has said.

Senior Tory MP Sir John Hayes said there was ‘no debate’ needed that the American Bully XL must be banned, after a spate of attacks involving the breed in recent years.

The American Bully XL is closely related to the banned Pit Bull Terrier breed, but is not subject to any legal restrictions itself.

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Ian ‘Wiggy’ Symes of Fareham was killed last year while walking an American Bully that ‘quickly became aggressive’ after its instincts kicked in following ‘rough play’, an inquest held in April this year was told.

A shrine set up at the recreation in Hillson Drive, Fareham, in memory of Wiggy Symes, who died after a dog attack there Picture: Steve DeeksA shrine set up at the recreation in Hillson Drive, Fareham, in memory of Wiggy Symes, who died after a dog attack there Picture: Steve Deeks
A shrine set up at the recreation in Hillson Drive, Fareham, in memory of Wiggy Symes, who died after a dog attack there Picture: Steve Deeks

Dog behaviour expert Dr Candy d’Sa told the inquest that the dog as ‘super breed’ with an ‘extreme bite force’. It had only been around for 15 years and even less in the UK, she said, and had arisen out of the banned pitbull and was bred for ‘hunting, baiting and killing other animals’.

Sir John, the MP for South Holland and the Deepings, told the Commons: ‘Regretfully, the subject of dangerous dogs is salient again. Deep regrets of the most tragic events.’

He added: ‘Just last month, a 37-year-old man was killed in Greater Manchester.’

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Jonathan Hogg died in hospital after suffering serious injuries when he was attacked by a dog at his home in Leigh.

Sir John went on: ‘A 17-month-old, Bella-Rae Birch, killed last year. Just before that, a 10-year-old, Jack Lis. They were all killed by this so-called Bully Dog, the American XL Bully Dog. We need an urgent statement from the government, not to debate this matter but simply to confirm that this bad breed, bred to kill, should be banned.’

Commons Leader and Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt replied: ‘I think many people would be surprised to hear the volume of such attacks that do take place, and there has been a spate of them recently that have been incredibly shocking, and the result of owners not being able to control those animals.

‘It is a very serious matter. I know the Secretary of State (Therese Coffey) is aware of these matters.

‘As the next questions to her are not until July 6, I shall write on his behalf and make sure that the Secretary of State has heard it today.’

There are currently four banned breeds of dog in the UK, the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.