Two men arrested after XL Bully killed in ‘deliberate attack’

The animal was taken for emergency treatment but died from its injuries

Two men have been arrested after a dog believed to be an XL bully was attacked and fatally injured in the UK.

Thames Valley Police said the animal was "deliberately attacked and seriously injured" on Burnham Lane, Slough, at around 6pm on September 29. The dog was taken for emergency treatment but died from its injuries.

A police spokesperson said the two men, aged 20 and 22, were arrested on Friday at an address in the town, where a quantity of cannabis was also found.

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They said the 20-year-old was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B and possession of offensive weapon.

The 22-year-old was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B.

Both men were released on police bail until January, along with a 31-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled class B drug, according to a statement from the police.

New rules which came into effect on October 1 mean it is now against the law to import, breed, sell or re-home the XL Bully type dogs in Ireland.

And from February 1 2025, there will be a ban on owning an XL Bully unless you have secured a “Certificate of Exemption”. A Certificate of Exemption will only be issued to owners who can prove that their XL Bully breed of dog has a dog licence and is microchipped and neutered. Its is understood that if a dog is not given a certificate of exemption, it will be destroyed.

It is the first time a type of dog is being banned in Ireland and it is being done as a public safety measure following a spate of high-profile attacks in recent months.

The new measures come just months after the death of Nicole Morey in Limerick in early June. The 23-year-old was brutally attacked and killed by an XL Bully as she returned home from celebrating her birthday.

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