Two XL bully dogs are shot by farmer in Wales after they killed 22 pregnant sheep and injured 48 more in savage rampage
- David Hughes, 26, admitted his bulldog was dangerously out of control
- The beast had even become aggressive towards him in the incident in Wales
Two American XL bulldogs have been shot by a farmer in Wales after they killed 22 pregnant sheep and injured 48 more in a savage rampage.
David Hughes, 26, of Pen y Wern, Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham, appeared at the city’s magistrates’ court and admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and being the owner of a dog worrying livestock.
The attack happened on private agricultural land at Rhosllanerchrugog in March after the dogs escaped from their home.
The dog had even turned on the farmer himself and had become aggressive.
Hughes was banned from keeping dogs for five years and ordered to pay £900 in fines.
The financial cost of the incident totalled at more than £14,000.
Two American XL bulldogs have been shot by a farmer in Wales after they killed 22 pregnant sheep and injured 48 more (file image)
PC Chris James said: ‘I welcome this result after what was a horrific scene for the victim, who is still suffering the effects of the incident today. The emotional and financial impact on the farmer has been considerable.
‘Livestock attacks are extremely distressing not only for the animals, but for their keepers too.
‘The costs, both financially and emotionally for such distressing incidents are wholly unacceptable.’
North Wales police said: ‘Despite several attempts by the farmer to stop the dogs attacking his livestock, he was unable to get them under control, before one became aggressive towards him.
‘Both dogs were eventually shot by the farmer at the scene, with the financial cost of the incident amounting to more than £14,000.’
XL bulldogs are linked to an increasing number of dog attacks in the UK, with experts calling for the breed to be controlled by law.
Two in four fatal dog attacks in the UK in 2021 involved the breed – rising to six in ten in 2022, including high-profile incidents that killed children Jack Lis, 10, and Bella-Rae Birch, 17 months.
Bella-Rae was pronounced dead shortly after the attack in March 2022, which involved an American Bully purchased ‘for buttons’ a week before.
David Hughes, 26, of Pen y Wern, Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham, appeared at the city’s magistrates’ court (pictured, file image) and admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control
Jack’s death in November last year, in which he suffered ‘severe’ head and neck injuries, has sparked a campaign by his mother Emma Whitfield to bring in tougher penalties on irresponsible dog breeders.
Dog behaviour expert Stan Rawlinson told MailOnline earlier this year: ‘I wouldn’t go near one. I’ve been around all sorts of dogs, even the most dangerous. But these XL Bully dogs are very reactive.’
And just last month a dog owner was left devastated after his much-loved Shih Tzu was killed after an XL bully slipped its harness.
Nine-year-old Oscar was attacked as he and fellow shih tzu Ollie, five, were walked by owner Paul Regan in Marton, Middlesbrough.
A large bulldog-type dog slipped from its harness as it and another large dog were walked by a man, lunging at Oscar and sinking its teeth into the helpless smaller animal’s throat.
Experts have warned that the American crossbreed can kill in just 60 seconds and more people will die unless the popular breed is banned.