Thousands sign petition after XL Bully attacks in St Helens and UK

As reported in the Star last month, a dangerously out of control dog attacked three women and three dogs at Willow Park in Newton-le-Willows.

The animal was described as an "XL Bully type" and the incident resulted in the dogs suffering serious puncture wounds and the women with cuts to their hands and face.

The dangerous dog, along with a second animal that the owner managed to get under control, were seized by police and an investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.

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Christine Potts was injured after trying to save her two dogs from an attack (Image: Christine Potts)

The Newton incident is one of a number of serious dog attacks that have happened both locally and nationally.

A dog, which is believed to have been an XL Bully, had to be put down after it attacked a woman on Frodsham Drive, Blackbrook, on Friday, August 25.

Another "XL Bully type" savagely attacked a four-month old Border Collier in front of its pregnant owner on Station Road, Sutton, in June, while the tragedy of one-year-old Bella-Rae Birch, who died from a dog attack in Blackbrook last year, also involved an XL Bully.

Jackie Mahoney's dog Scooby was left with serious puncture wounds after the Newton attack (Image: Jackie Mahoney)

A three-year-old girl also suffered facial injuries following a serious dog attack in Knowsley earlier this month, which was by a banned Pitbull breed, while a Leigh man was mauled to death in August by a dog which is believed to have been an XL Bully.

The issue has gained national traction in recent days after a video of an XL Bully attacking a young girl and two men in Birmingham went viral over the weekend, while a case of a 10-year-old boy being killed by an XL Bully in Caerphilly, Wales, has also resurfaced after an attack in 2021.

Following the rise of serious dog attacks across the country, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has announced she is seeking "urgent advice" in relation to banning American XL Bullies.

Blu the Border Collie was attacked in Sutton (Image: Holly-Jane Robb)

With increasing concerns about American Bully dogs, a petition started by one of the women involved in the Newton attack has launched a petition that looks to add the breed to the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Similar to pit bulls, which are also an illegal breed, this would make it illegal to sell, own, or breed XL Bullies in the UK.

At present, more than 16,000 have signed the petition which means that the Government will respond to the issue. If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the issue will be debated in Parliament.

Jackie said she is still suffering from the Newton attack (Image: Jackie Mahoney)

Jackie Mahoney, a Newton mum and dog owner who set up the petition, said: "I set the petition up to keep the issue in the public eye because it's something that isn't going away.

"People have died as a result of these dogs and there have been so many attacks involving them, so I think you have to draw the line and add them to the Dangerous Dogs Act.

"Thankfully, my dog has recovered from the attack but it has still been traumatic for me after the incident.

"It's the first thing that I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about at night, because I keep imagining the attack and my dog dying in front of me.

"People are anxious and fearful of these dogs, and the evidence is there that they are dangerous from the attacks in St Helens and across the country."

Marie Rimmer MP has backed calls to ban XL Bullies (Image: Marie Rimmer MP)

As the number of reported attacks from XL Bullies rises, more people in positions of authority have expressed their concerns about the breed.

Marie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South & Whiston, said: “I am very much a dog lover and I think they are a great companion. I have enjoyed the company of dogs for large parts of my life.

"Yet at the end of the day, these XL Bully dogs are dangerous. This specific breed has been responsible for far too many attacks and even deaths.

"The Government needs to take urgent action and put it on the banned list of breeds.”

Jackie's petition to add XL Bullies to the Dangerous Dogs Act can be found here.