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Girl bitten by 'potential XL bully', police say

Paul Pigott
BBC News
PA Media An American bully type dog on a leash. the dog is starting into the camera and has his ears up. His short cropped fur is white on one side and brown on the other in similar patches across his muscular body. PA Media
XL bully dogs, the largest of the American bullies, have been involved in a number of attacks - some fatal

A girl taken to hospital with puncture wounds from a dog bite was attacked by a "potential XL bully type dog," police have said.

She was bitten outside a shop in the Trebanog area of Rhondda Cynon Taf on 7 April, according to South Wales Police, who added her wounds were not life-changing.

The dog was destroyed before officers were able to confirm if it was an XL bully, the force explained.

The breed is banned in the UK after a series of attacks, some fatal, including the death of 10-year-old Jack Lis in Caerphilly in 2021.

If a dog owner believes their pet is an XL Bully, police said it can no longer be registered with the UK government.

They are asked to contact South Wales Police directly about options to register the dog and not have it seized.

What is an American XL bully and how dangerous are they?

An XL bully is the largest kind of American bully dog.

The UK government published guidance to help identify XL bullies, which are not a specific breed.

They are described as large dogs "with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power".

Male XL dogs stand from 20in (51cm) high at the shoulder, with female XLs only slightly smaller.

Dogs are considered XLs if they meet the minimum height and a substantial number of other characteristics

There are no official figures for the number in the UK.

Dog attacks resulted in more than 600 hospital admissions in Wales in 2023-24, according to the UK government data.