An ‘aggressive’ XL Bully dog is on the loose in a British city after armed police tried and failed to shoot it.
South Yorkshire Police were called to the Walkley area of Sheffield at 10.04pm on Thursday after neighbours reported gunshots outside a house on Daniel Hill Street.
Shots were reportedly fired from outside a property and the windows of a nearby vehicle smashed.
Armed police attended the scene and upon entry to a property, officers reported an XL Bully became ‘aggressive’. A shot was fired towards the dog and it fled the scene.
Several hours later, a road traffic collision took place in the Rivelin area.
Officers were called at 3.11am on Friday to an incident involving a motorbike and a silver Golf, where shots were again fired at a man.
A statement from South Yorkshire Police said the force is treating the incidents as ‘linked’.
Both Daniel Hill Street and Rivelin Road in the city have been cordoned off as investigations continue.
During searches of the properties of those arrested, police seized two dogs, including an XL Bully, and shot at a third, also an XL Bully (stock image)
A man, aged 37, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a woman, 39, has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm.
The rider of the motorcycle, a 36-year-old man, was also arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
During searches of the properties of those arrested, police seized two dogs, including an XL Bully, and shot at the third, also an XL Bully. The first two dogs remain in police kennels, but the third dog is on the loose in Walkley.
A statement from South Yorkshire Police said the dog fled the scene and warned local residents to be ‘vigilant’. It is not known whether the dog was injured.
‘We’re asking for the public to be vigilant for an XL Bully that could be loose in our communities, or for anyone with information about where it may be being kept to come forward and assist us with our investigation,’ the appeal read.
‘The dog became loose in the Hillfoot area of Sheffield last night, following a firearms discharge. We know that hearing about a dog on the loose can cause concern in our communities and we assure you we are doing all we can to find the dog.’
Chief Superintendent for Sheffield Jamie Henderson said: ‘I would like to assure you that we are doing all we can to locate the dog or find those who may have housed it to evade police contact.
‘We appreciate people in our communities being vigilant, and I ask that you get in touch immediately if you see the dog. I urge you not to approach the dog, as we believe it has the ability to show aggression and cause harm.
‘If you do see the dog, please call 999 immediately, if you have information about its whereabouts, please get in touch online, via live chat or by calling 101 quoting incident number 948 of 3 April 2025.’
