An American who bred the first XL Bully today blamed greedy breeders for mixing them with dangerous types of dog as he hit back at the Government's plan to outlaw the animal following a spate of attacks.
Dave Wilson from Virginia began creating the breed in the 1990s by crossing an American Staffordshire terrier, American pit bull terrier and other bulldog breeds in the US.
Insisting his aim was to create a ‘docile' dog, he said: ‘We wanted a dog that was like a bodybuilder… a heavy-muscled, shorter dog. We also wanted to make sure that the demeanor didn't represent what the stereotype would be. So we started to create a dog with a very docile temperament. The ultimate companion breed'.
XL Bully dogs first began to appear in Britain in around 2014, before the breed soared in popularity during Covid. In the years since the first lockdown, the number of fatal attacks has steadily risen, sparking a panic that prompted Rishi Sunak to announce a UK-wide ban.
However, Mr Wilson took aim at breeders ‘cashing in' on the demand for XL Bully dogs by mixing them with other more dangerous dogs. He also claims there are no safety problems with the American bully in the US and said Britain ‘needs to stop pointing the fingers at dogs', telling The Times: ‘The true nature of the breed really isn't what is being portrayed.'
Dave Wilson from Virginia began creating the breed in the 1990s
The Government has said it will ban XL Bullies by the end of the year (file image)
Pictured: Lakaydia Reynolds who was attacked last week
Pictured: Mother-of-five Nima Begum whose cat was killed by an XL Bully
Just last week Ian Langley was fatally mauled by a Bully in Sunderland and a toddler nearly lost his leg in a brutal attack in Greenwich, South East London.
A majority of Brits – nine out of 10 – say Bully dogs should be banned.
Meanwhile, a force in The Midlands city came out on Sunday to say they strongly disagree.
Dozens of XL Bully owners added their voice against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plans to ban the breed following a spate of horror attacks, with one young woman insisting: ‘My dog's no killer – he's as sweet as an angel!'
A large group descended at a park in Leicester for an angry protest in a bid to help overturn the PM's proposal to outlaw the controversial Bully breed.
It was a spearheaded by mother-of-three Hannah Smith, 27, who said: ‘The government has got this so wrong and must have a re-think!
‘The majority of Bully owners are responsible people and it is ridiculous this breed could be banned because of the irresponsibility of just a few.
‘They are a lovely breed but in the wrong hands, yes they can be dangerous and attack.'
Isobel Wittington, 22, whose beloved two-year-old Bully XL Dexter has been with the family since a puppy, said: ‘He's so cute and as sweet as an angel. My dog's no killer!
‘There are bad owners but banning the breed will not stop attacks.'
Dozens of XL Bully owners added their voice against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plans to ban the breed following a spate of horror attacks on Sunday
The incensed owners met at historic Abbey Park on the outskirts of Leicester but left their pets at home as Miss Smith explained: ‘It is about our voice and not their bark.'
They later marched into the city centre, congregating at the Clock Tower – a small police presence in attendance at both locations.
The protest, following a similar one in London last month, comes after a spate of Bully XL attacks on children and adults across the country.
Many of the protesters – including young children – walked with banners promoting their cause, chanting ‘Save our Bullies' and ‘Muzzle Rishi not our dogs.'
Others stated: ‘Don't ban me, licence me' and ‘Stop bullying our best friends'.
Any ban will include an amnesty for existing owners providing their pets are registered, neutered and muzzled when in public.
Owners feared their animals would be put down but this will not be the case.
Miss Smith from Wigston, Leicestershire, believes the ban is a heavy-handed approach and more could be done to ensure backyard breeders and the ‘wrong people don't get their hands on the dogs.
Speaking to MailOnline as she led a protest march around Abbey Park, she said: ‘Rishi Sunak is not hearing our arguments defending the dog breed and is just going straight to the final option of banning them.
‘Most owners are very responsible and he is actively working against us. I can't imagine he knows anything about the breed.'
Miss Smith, who has a Bully called Kobe, and three children aged six, five and four, added: ‘If a Bully isn't properly trained, that's when you start to get problems but that can be true for any breed, not just this one.
‘XL Bullies are companion dogs. Kobe is such a chilled out lazy couch potato who just likes to sleep on the sofa and get cuddles. I have no worries or concerns about him being around my kids or anyone else. He's not once snarled.
‘My six year old son Logan, out here today is even defending the breed, because if doesn't want Kobe to go anywhere and loves him.
‘The fatal attacks and others have been awful but banning Bullies will not stop attacks in future. Those dogs have been in the wrong hands.'
She continued: ‘The protest is because the Government should be tackling backyard breeder not penalising responsible owners who care for their dog's property and live them to bits.'
‘You can't have a rule for one dog breed which can harm people and not the others. That's unfair.
She added: ‘We're not looking to cause trouble, we're just walking from Abbey Park to the Clock Tower without our dogs. We don't want to give off the wrong impression, we want people to approach us and talk with us about the breed.'
Last week, a mother-of-five was left fearing for her children's safety after a violent XL Bully-type dog got into her garden and killed the family's beloved pet cat – in violent scenes caught on CCTV.
Nima Begum, 40, was in her house when she heard a commotion outside and saw a man wrestling with the powerful animal.
He kept shouting ‘Your cat is fine', even though his pet's jaws were covered in blood.
Mrs Begum rushed outside and found her terrified cat Kiwi cowering in a tree, which she managed to get down with the help of a passer-by. But the tabby died before she could get her to a vet.
One of Kiwi's kittens, 11-week-old Peppercorn, was also outside but managed to escape.
‘It all happened in seconds. I was absolutely frightened and my cat was killed,' she said.
In the footage, the man, who was wearing tracksuit bottoms and a black jacket with white trainers, could he heard shouting and clutching his head in horror as he shouted at the dog: ‘Stop it. Hey. Oh my god.' Approached by a passer-by, he said: ‘He just pulled free. The dog got free. The lead broke. I'm really sorry but the cat's okay.'
‘I have seen that dog off the lead every day for a few months. It could have been the dog attacking my three-year-old boy.
‘My biggest worry is not just about my child but for the school nearby. I am so scared to take my boy to the nursery across the road.'
Mrs Begum was astonished to find a woman she believes was with the dog owner blaming her cat for the incident.
The number of fatal dog attacks in the UK have soared in recent years – hitting a record high in 2022
She said: ‘When I went outside he had started walking away. There was a lady who may have been with him and I asked her where my cat was.
‘She just pointed in a direction down the road. I could see the dog was growling at me and its face was covered in blood. That is when I got really scared.
‘The woman said that the dog needed to be seen by a vet as our cat had attacked it and that it might cost them a fortune.
‘She seemed to be blaming Kiwi for what happened, which was just ridiculous.'
She added: ‘I kept repeating ‘Where is my cat? Where is my cat?' and she pointed at the tree on the verge outside my house.
‘Then I saw my cat sitting halfway up. She was out of reach and then she collapsed and fell part of the way.
‘Someone helped me bend branches down so we could reach her. My 17-year-old daughter was holding her in a towel and she took her last breath in my daughter's hands.
‘Within five seconds she was gone. Her stomach had been ripped open and you could see her insides. I didn't have a chance to take her to the vet. The dog owner and the lady just disappeared.'
Also subject to an attack was a young woman, who said she ‘thought she was going to die' as she was mauled by three dogs in a brutal attack filmed by a passerby.
Lakaydia Reynolds was walking through Abbots Park in Lambeth, south London, when the animals, which included a banned American Pitbull Terrier, set upon her.
The 24-year-old was left needing plastic surgery after the incident on June 6, which saw her receive bites and scratches on her face, legs and arm.
