Latest news with #XLbully
BreakingNews.ie
11-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Widow of murder victim ordered to pay €11,000 for care of seized XL Bully dogs
A judge has ordered the widow of murder victim Jason Hennessy Sr to pay over €11,000 for the care of her four XL Bully dogs, seized in Dublin after one escaped and terrorised gardaí. Veronica Maher (54) pleaded that her four beloved restricted breed pets were all she had to remember her late husband, who was shot dead in a Blanchardstown steakhouse on Christmas Eve, 2023. Advertisement Ms Maher, of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, came before Dublin District Court on May 28th to challenge a Garda application under the Control of Dogs Act for an order to destroy Oddie, Reggie, their mother Medusa, and the fourth dog, Joe. They have been in a dog pound and given veterinary attention since being taken from Ms Maher on April 4th. Granting a destruction order for all four, Judge Anthony Halpin had noted evidence of six gardaí at the scene on March 28th when four officers fled from Oddie, who escaped from Ms Maher's garden. He accepted they had to take 'evasive action to save themselves from being savaged by an XL Bully dog.' He said they were terrified, and 'I can only imagine the utmost horror which they experienced.' Advertisement However, Ms Maher is to appeal, attempting to overturn the ruling in the Circuit Court about Oddie and possibly bringing a judicial review of the destruction order being extended to the other three dogs. This has led to a temporary halt on the animals being put down pending the outcome of the appeals. On Wednesday, the case resumed, and she appeared again before Judge Halpin to consider costs. Garda Sergeant Michael Harkin said the upkeep of the dogs for the past nine weeks was €10,716, and there was a €500 vet's bill. Advertisement Judge Halpin granted the costs order for Ms Maher to pay €11,216 but also acceded to Ms Maher's lawyer's application for a transcript of the original hearing for the appeal. During the earlier hearing, Judge Halpin said Oddie 'left the premises and pursued the gardaí was dangerous and could easily have fatally wounded one or all those gardaí,' he remarked. Visibly upset, Ms Maher denied opening a gate to unleash the unmuzzled dog on gardai patrolling in her cul-de-sac. She said the dogs were part of her family, like their children, and Oddie slept in her king-sized bed. Advertisement The judge also noted evidence that she had these dogs to protect the property. She testified that three-year-old Oddie jumped the front garden wall, and she denied the accusation that she set the dog on the garda. She also claimed Medusa had also been in the yard at the time. The court heard the other two were in cages in the back garden, and Oddie had already damaged a rear garden exit. Garda Sean McLoughlin alleged that when he got near her house, she told him, 'Get the f**k away from my house yous murderers'. Advertisement He was in absolute fear for his life that he would be viciously attacked by the dog, which chased and tried to bite him. He alleged she let the dog out her front garden gate. He and three colleagues fled to different gardens, with one standing on a wall until backup arrived a few minutes later. He believed that Oddie was a credible threat and he would be set on them again. Ms Maher brought the dog back into the house, and she denied telling gardaí, 'If yous don't fuck off now, I'll get him back out here.' Witness Kayleigh McEntee (26), of Waterville Row, Blanchardstown, was at the house and contradicted the evidence that Ms Maher opened the gate. She also said the dogs were safe and often around children. Ireland Judge orders 'destruction' of XL Bully dogs owned... Read More Three more gardaí said they also had had to flee to gardens in the cul de sac, with one telling Judge Halpin that he feared he would be killed. Photographs were handed in showing some of the dogs with family and children. In his ruling, Judge Halpin described one image of an infant surrounded by two enormous XL Bully dogs as upsetting 'given the potential ferocity of these animals'. He found that the dogs were dangerous and not under proper control.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- BBC News
Police appeal after chihuahua dies following 'XL bully' attack
A chihuahua has been killed in a hit-and-run incident in Plymouth following a suspected XL bully attack, police and Cornwall Police said officers were made aware of an "out-of-control XL bully-type dog" attacking a chihuahua dog on Millbay Road at about 20:30 BST on Tuesday 3 June. The chihuahua, which ran away after the attack, was then fatally struck by a Ford Fiesta car which failed to stop, police added. The force said the owner of the XL bully-type was also reported to have assaulted the chihuahua's owner before leaving the scene. Police said: "The woman suspected of carrying out the assault, who was with a male at the time, has not yet been identified."CCTV inquiries in the area had already been carried out, and investigating officers were now appealing for any witnesses or footage which may help the investigation, officers said. Since 1 February 2024, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Vicious XL Bully ripped man's EAR off after pouncing while he slept leaving him with horror injuries
A MAN had his ear ripped off by a vicious XL Bully - after the banned breed pounced on him while he was asleep. Darren Shuttleworth-Long was brutally attacked by the dog, which he was looking after, after he fell asleep on April 26. 7 To his horror, the 52-year-old awoke to discover the dog's jaw locked underneath his armpit. Pancaking, Darren managed to get the dog off him but the hound came back for more and launched a second attack on him. During the second attack the XL Bully bit Darren's right ear, ripping it off. Darren finally struggled away from the out of control dog and was rushed to hospital. He spent three days recovering from the horror attack in the ICU (intensive care unit) at Bristol's Southmead Hospital. Darren is currently waiting to have his ear reconstructed with plastic surgery. Wiltshire Police have confirmed that a 24-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury. She has been released on bail pending further inquiries while police probe the horrific attack. Darren, from Swindon, Wiltshire, said: "I went to sleep and had the dog asleep next to me. "I woke up and it had latched on the side of me. I managed to move it off. "It attacked me again and hit me on the side. "I crashed against the bedroom door and locked myself in with the dog. "He was having a go on my right ear. He bit my ear off. "He hit me about eight to ten times - I thought 'I'm in serious trouble '." 7 7 Darren says the attack was unprovoked and lasted for an agonising ten minutes before he was luckily able to escape the dog. He added: "My whole right side of my face was numb. There was blood everywhere. "It was pouring out of me. It was like a horror movie. My whole face was covered in blood. Half my nose was hanging off." After arriving in hospital he had what was left of his savaged ear stitched up. He said: "The tissue had to come off - there was nothing to attach it to." He has since been recovering from the attack and now struggles with going out. He said: "I can't go anywhere near big dogs now. "It's a long lasting stress that will be there for the rest of my life. "Dogs barking sends cold chills through me." Darren is currently waiting for the soft tissue left on his ear to harden before he can have an appointment with a plastic surgeon to look at reconstruction. Which dog breeds are banned in the UK? THERE are specific regulations in place that prohibit certain dog breeds from being owned or bred in the UK. So what are the illegal dogs in the UK and why are they illegal? Here's what we know. Which dog breeds are illegal in the UK? People tend to think of large, vicious dogs when they imagine being bitten by one. But the truth is that many types of dogs are known to bite humans, whether provoked or not. However, it's important to remember that just because a breed tends to bite humans, that doesn't mean that they all do. British law determines five breeds of dog are illegal to own, breed, sell or give away. These are an XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro. 7 7
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Man, 50, who battered his XL Bully with a baseball bat and threw bricks at her walks free from court - and dog had to be put down
An animal abuser who repeatedly hit his XL Bully with a baseball bat and threw bricks at her has managed to walk free from court with just a suspended prison sentence. James Campbell, a 50-year-old from Birkenhead, just outside Liverpool, was filmed chucking brocks and pans of water at 21-month-old dog Zeus, which he repeatedly abused in the back garden of his home on Harrowby Road. A witness who provided evidence in the case, heard at Liverpool Magistrates Court, said they also saw Campbell grabbing the dog by its neck, headbutting and violently shouting at her. Following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA, he was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and a six-year ban on keeping animals, as well as a £200 fine. He admitted to violating the Animal Welfare act at a previous hearing. Liverpool Magistrates Court was told that Zeus was removed from Campbell's care on August 8 2024 following concerns that he was abusing her. He told cops that his wrist was injured after the dog had bitten him, and that he had acted in self defence against the dog's 'frustrating' behaviour. He had owned her for just a few months, and failed to get an exemption certification to keep her, since she was a banned breed. As a result, she was put down by a vet after he signed her over to authorities. A vet who viewed footage of the incident told the court that significant swelling to the dog's head indicated just how hard she was hit. The vet said: 'Swelling of this size indicates the hit was relatively strong. A reasonable owner would have sought veterinary care in the case of any injuries noticed on the dog's body. That help was not provided. 'The owner admitted he threw bricks at the dog's abdominal area. This can lead to internal bleeding, organ injuries and death in extreme cases. Having reviewed the dog's body language, she is trying to avoid and escape the torment. 'This again indicates she is being exposed to a situation she does not want to be in. 'Dogs suffer mentally while beating, these sort of situations are very stressful for them, especially when they have no safe space to escape to or hide. 'Considering the video evidence and witness statements it is clear that Zeus suffered repeated acts of physical violence. 'These acts were forceful and caused significant injuries. Any dogs, especially newly rehomed dogs can behave in frustrating ways - that includes chewing objects and ignoring owners commands. 'That is not an excuse for beating. This sort of behaviour is unacceptable.' Campbell told RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes that he had hit the dog 'three or four times' with a baseball bat in self defence. Though he denied headbutting her, he admitted that he may have thrown small bricks at her at least twice. Speaking after the case Inspector Joynes said: 'Zeus was subjected to violent and senseless abuse at the hands of Campbell on a number of occasions. 'The witness said they had never seen her behave aggressively, and the self-defence injuries Campbell claimed to have suffered just didn't add up. 'It's heartbreaking that many dogs like Zeus have been and will be euthanised simply because they are considered to be dangerous because they look a certain way.' Since December 2023, it has been illegal to sell, give away, abandon or breed XL Bullies. It is also illegal to rehome or transfer ownership of the violent breed, and from February 2024 it has been a criminal offence to own one without an exemption certificate.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- BBC News
'XL bully type' breed involved in dog attack in Portsmouth park
A dog has died of its injuries after an attack by an "XL bully type" and Isle of Wight Constabulary is investigating the incident which took place in Portsmouth on Wednesday 30 April.A force spokesperson explained a 65-year-old man was walking his brown cockapoo in Alexandra Park between 18:00 and 19:00 BST when it cockapoo was reportedly attacked by a "large white and ginger XL bully type" dog. The spokesperson added: "The cockapoo has since died from its injuries and we would now like to speak to anyone who can help us identify the dog and its male owner." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
