Horror as 7-year-old girl mutilated by XL Bully on Sheffield street

A seven-year-old girl remains in hospital with serious injuries after being attacked by a dog, believed to be an XL bully, in Sheffield last night.

Police were called to East Bank Road in the Arbourthorne area of the city at 9.05pm on Thursday (May 9) following reports of a dog attack. Officers restrained the dog by its collar and it was captured and taken to the kennel.

The young woman was transported to the hospital, where she is at the moment. The owner of the dog has been located and the investigation is ongoing, the spokesperson of the South Yorkshire Police said.

Read more: Residents rally behind charity shop after nasty ‘hope you haven’t failed’ letter.

The attack comes just days after Kylie Daley, 25, from Sheffield, was told by a judge that her dogs would be put down, in the first South Yorkshire XL assault case to go to court. The legislation on owning and keeping an XL Bully dog ​​changed in February 2024.

Owners of the controversial super breed must now register, insure and neuter their XL Bullies – something Daley failed to do. The law – which has been met with outrage from animal and dog rights charities – follows a rise in attacks across the country involving the breed.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We were called at 9.05pm last night (May 9) to East Bank Road in Sheffield following reports of a dog attack on a girl in the street. We assisted at the scene with one of our officers managing to restrain the dog by the collar.

“The dog, believed to be an XL Bully, was captured and taken to the kennel.

“The girl, who is seven years old, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, where she remains at the moment. The dog’s owner has since been located and inquiries are ongoing.”

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