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The mother of a ten-year-old boy who died after being attacked by a dangerous dog has hit out at UK Government Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
In a tweet published on September 10, Ms Braverman said she was seeking “urgent advice” on banning the American XL bully dog breed.
It is same breed as the dogs that killed ten-year-old Jack Lis in November 2021, and Shirley Patrick, 83, in December 2022. Both incidents happened in Penyrheol.
Ms Braverman described the breed as a “clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children”.
Her comments came after an 11-year-old girl was mauled by an XL Bully in Birmingham over the weekend, with a video of the attack going viral.
The Home Secretary added: “Things can’t go on like this.”
However, Jack’s mother, Emma Whitfield, responded to Ms Braverman on Twitter and said: “It’s crazy how this video has gone viral and now politicians are coming out of the woodwork saying how bad it is.”
Ms Whitfield addressed MPs earlier this summer to call for radical changes to dog laws. She also spoke to members of the All-Party Dog Advisory Welfare Group in Westminster and has been a vocal campaigner on this issue.
What is the Dangerous Dogs Act?
The 1991 Dangerous Dog Act is a set of laws that limits the public to what breed of dog they can and can’t own, as well as outlining their responsibilities as owners, in keeping control of potentially dangerous dogs.
The list of prohibited dogs are:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
In 2014, an amendment was made to the act which extended it to cover private property. Prior to this, the Act was only applicable to public spaces.
The punishment for owning any of the previously mentioned breeds varies from a £1,000 fine to six months’ imprisonment.
If any dog was to be the direct cause of loss of life and showed signs of being a ‘dangerous dog’ before the attack, the owner of such a dog could face up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
On deciding whether a dog was potentially dangerous or not prior to an attack, the court is asked to assess the temperament of the dog and also the owner’s ability to control such a dog.
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, between 2000 and 2019, a total of 64 people in England and Wales lost their lives as a result of an attack by a dog.
Addressing Ms Braverman, Ms Whitfield continued: “Where were you when my son was killed? Where were you when other innocent people were killed? Where were you when I was at Parliament asking for change? Nowhere.
“If you’re going to do something please do it. Stop pussyfooting around the ‘breed neutral’ bull crap and do something.
What is Breed Specific Legislation?
Breed Specific Legislation, which is part of the Dangerous Dogs Act, sees four breeds of dog, traditionally bred for fighting, banned in the UK.
However, campaigners from the Dog Control Coalition want to see this scrapped and replaced with a form of legislation that moves away from banning dogs based on their breed alone.
“Maybe you can do this and work on the backyard breeders and the thuggish owners ruining lives too.”
Ms Whitfield added: “Thank you to so many people/organisations for helping bring the issues to light, because it seems none of those in charge who could make changes wanted to listen to the victims’ families before now.”
Caerphilly’s Labour MP Wayne David has repeatedly called for “radical changes” in the way people own, breed and sell dogs in the UK, following Jack’s death.
Following Ms Braverman’s comments, Mr David said: “The Government must take action on dangerous dogs.
“The Home Secretary has asked for legal advice so action can be taken on XL Bullies. But the Prime Minister has apparently not supported her.
“Most people rightly believe that the government must take action immediately, if attacks and deaths are to be stopped.
“The time for talking is well past. The government needs to stop equivocating and take the action that is needed.”
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