Boy, 5, hospitalised after suspected XL Bully attack

A young boy has been hospitalised after being bitten by a dog suspected to be an XL Bully.

The incident occurred on Brazil Street in Hull at around 11:45 am on Tuesday, May 28. Police responded to reports of a five-year-old boy being bitten by a dog.

The boy suffered head injuries in the attack and was taken to the hospital, where he is still receiving treatment. Humberside Police have seized the dog, which they believe to be an XL Bully breed.

Detective Chief Inspector Allison Sweeting stated:

“We are working closely with the boy’s family and the owner of the dog to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. At this stage, the breed of the dog is believed to be an XL Bully type, and it has been seized as part of our inquiries.”

What can I do if I have been attacked by a dog?

If you have unfortunately become a victim of a dog attack, we would recommend reporting your injury to the police as soon as possible to prevent others from becoming injured.

If the dog is classified as “beyond control”, the police may seek authorisation for the dog to be destroyed or recommend that owners incorporate preventative measures such as muzzles, letterbox covers, a training course or cages.

In addition, a victim of a dog attack may be able to make an application to the government for a compensation award via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) scheme, which has been set up to reimburse victims of violent crimes, although this is limited to instances where the dog has specifically been used as a weapon.

Alternatively, you may wish to submit a claim against the dog owners and their insurers directly, which is not as strict in terms of qualification or awards.

What is an XL Bully?

The government has published the definition of the ‘XL Bully’ breed as the new rules are due to come into force.

The definition has been published following a number of meetings convened by the Environment Secretary and made up of police, local authority, vets and other animal welfare experts to help define the breed.

XL Bully definition

The XL Bully breed type was developed through the crossing of various bull breeds, including the American Pit Bull Terrier. The XL Bully breed type is a variant of the wider American Bully breed type.

The XL Bully breed type is typically larger (both in terms of height and body shape) and more muscular than other Bully breed variant types such as the ‘Micro’, ‘Pocket’, ‘Standard’ and ‘Classic’. The full definition of the XL Bully breed has been published on the government website.

Further reading

Criminal Injury (CICA) Claims – Oakwood Solicitors

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If you have any questions or concerns regarding a dog in your area or wish to submit a claim for compensation, please get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation with our Public Liability team.

Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.