The breed of dog, XL Bullies, has been banned in England and Wales since last year because they are known for potentially fatal attacks on people – but they can be owned with an exemption certificate
A baby boy who died in a dog attack in South Wales was mauled to death by an XL bully, police have confirmed. The six-year-old family dog, attacked the tragic tot on Sunday, November 2.
Emergency services were called to an address in Crossway, Rogiet, at 6pm on Sunday following a report of a dog attack. A nine-month-old baby was pronounced dead at the scene.
XL Bully dogs have been banned in England and Wales, since February 2024 and it is illegal to own one without a Certificate of Exemption. The ban was a direct response to a rise in attacks on people, including fatalities, that were linked to XL Bully dogs.
Owning an exempted XL Bully requires following strict rules, such as muzzling and leashing the dog in public.
The dog in question, which has been put down by a vet, was registered with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and a certificate of exemption was issued in 2024.
Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Townsend said: “While the dog in this case was registered as an XL bully, it was done so proactively before the ban came into effect.
“In preparation for the new law, when requesting a certificate of exemption, owners were not required to formally identify the dog’s breed.
“In cases where a suspected banned breed is involved only a DLO or a court-approved independent assessor can make an official determination.
“No arrests have been made at this time, and this is still an ongoing investigation, and official identification of the dog was necessary.
“We understand that there is a significant amount of interest and concern about this incident, and we have seen the community rally together in this difficult time.
“It is our responsibility as a police service to ensure that the death of a baby boy is fully investigated and so we again urge people to be responsible, and to consider the impact that speculation, rumour, and commentary can have on the family and on the integrity of our investigation.”
Dozens of police vehicles, armed response units, and several ambulances rushed to the scene at around 6pm on Sunday. Locals said fireworks sent the animal into an agitated “panic”. Police said inquiries are ongoing.
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