New data has revealed the top 10 XL Bully hotspots in England with the highest numbers of the ‘dangerous’ banned breed.
XL Bullys, which are the largest type of American bulldog, have been illegal to own in England and Wales since January 31 without an exemption, following a slew of fatal attacks across the UK.
Under the changes, dogs that were more than one year old after this date must be neutered by June 30, while younger dogs must receive the same treatment by December 31.
The powerful breed is distinct with an average 20-inch height, broad shoulders, a bulky head and nine stone weight.
With a flurry of attacks and deaths from the banned breed emerging in October, Croydon has emerged with the highest number of XL Bully owners in the country, according to data compiled by The Spectator.
There are a staggering 219 approved XL Bullys in the CR0 postcode alone with Sheffield coming second place with 189 dogs.
New data has revealed top ten XL Bully hotspots, unveiling the areas with the highest numbers of the ‘dangerous’ dog
Croydon has emerged as the postcode area in England with the most XL Bully dogs, with a staggering 219 approved dogs (stock image)
Very closely behind in third and fourth place is Warrington and Derby, which have 182 and 180 of the banned dogs respectively.
Wildnes, both L4 and L36 Liverpool postcodes, Birmingham and Leicester as well as Saint Helens all made it to top ten list for XL Bully hotspots, The Spectator reports.
It became a criminal offence to own the huge dog breed in England and Wales – without an exemption certificate – in February of this year following a slew of attacks from the breed.
Now XL Bully owners are required to have their pets both neutered, microchipped – and they must be muzzled and on a lead at all times in public.
The latest addition to the government’s dangerous dog list, it is also against the law to breed, exchange, rehome or sell an XL Bully, according to the Blue Cross.
Despite the stringent ban, two people have still been killed in XL Bully attacks in the four months it has been in force.
Most recently, a mother-of-two was mauled to death by her two registered XL Bullys after her family had begged her to give them up.
Angeline Mahal, aged in her 50s, died at her home in Hornchurch, East London, on May 20 in what was the first fatal attack since the breed was banned in February.
She was discovered by her two sons, who attempted CPR whilst they waited for an ambulance to arrive.
Angeline Mahal (pictured) was fatally attacked by her two XL Bully’s at her home in Hornchurch in May
Angeline Mahal died following the latest tragedy involving the banned breed of dogs
The sign in one of the windows at the home saying: ‘Never mind the dog, beware of the kids’
It is believed she may have been deceased for several hours before their arrival.
The two registered dogs were seized by police – some bearing riot shields – after being contained in a room.
A family member, who wanted to remain nameless, said at the time: ‘I’d discussed with Angeline the fatal XL Bully attack in Jaywick in which a grandmother died and I used to always urge her to give up the dogs.
‘It was more because the dogs were a bit of a tether, they took up a lot of her time with feeding and walking. It limited her freedom.
‘But there’s something I want to make clear and it’s that anyone who has XL Bully-type dog needs to do the right thing if they spot their pets becoming aggressive and give them up.
‘I know it’s hard because people have such an attachment – but we wouldn’t want any other family to go through this. We miss Angeline. She was a sincere person with such a kind heart.
‘You read about dogs killing their owners – but you never expect it to happen to your own family.’
The relative added: ‘Angeline always kept dogs, she had done for years. Her two most recent dogs were XL bullies. She’d had them since they were puppies and had cages for them. They were properly registered.
Jonathan Hogg, 37, was mauled to death by an XL Bully who attacked his scalp and neck and caused serious blood loss in May 2023
Police at the scene where the father-of-five was viciously attacked by his friend’s pet dog, called Poseidon, as he went to take him out of his pen
The pen where the illegal dogs were kept. Animal welfare visited the property and decided the dogs were being kept in sub-optimal conditions
The inside of the pen included dog toys, footballs and was laid on top of fake grass at the back of the owner’ home
‘We don’t know the full details yet but I think only one of them attacked her. Her two sons found her in the hallway. They tried to give her CPR but she had already gone. The police and paramedics turned up a little while later.’
In May 2023, a father-of-five was also mauled to death by his friend’s XL Bully.
An inquest heard in April that Jonathon Hogg had sustained the ‘worst injuried a trauma doctor had even seen’.
The brutal attack ensued when the 37-year-old entered the pen of an XL Bully named Poseidon.
Mr Hogg ended up lying face down with the vicious dog on top of him, biting his scalp and the back of his neck during the 15 minute attack, Bolton Coroners’ Court heard.
He was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, where it was discovered he had gone into cardiac arrest and suffered a catastrophic blood loss.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, his injuries were considered unsurvivable and he was pronounced dead at around 2.05am on May 19 last year.
The breed has also been known to attack children, as a five-year-old had ‘half of his scalp ripped off’ during a harrowing XL Bully attack.
Children have also been attacked by the breed, with one XL Bully ripping off half a five-year-old child’s scalp in a harrowing attack in May this year
Family and friends said the young boy was lucky to walk away with his life thanks to the three men who wrestled the dog off him in West Yorkshire
The shocking incident happened in a rundown house which locals claim is a well known drugs den in Hull, East Yorkshire, on Bank Holiday Monday.
CCTV from a neighbouring home shows the mother and her child entering the property with another man, claimed to be a local drug dealer. Seconds later blood curdling screams can be heard off camera coming from the house.
The sobbing mother emerges onto the street with her child in her arms as she pleads for an ambulance, before a stranger offers to ferry the boy to hospital.
Family friends have said the boy was lucky to walk away with his life thanks to the three men who wrestled the raging dog off him.
