XL Bullies should be 'removed or destroyed as soon as possible', says former Home Secretary behind Dangerous Dogs Act

15 September 2023, 13:34 | Updated: 15 September 2023, 15:29

By Henry Riley

@HenryRiley1

Tory grandee Lord Baker, who devised the Dangerous Dogs Act, has called for all XL bullies to be removed or destroyed "as soon as possible".

The former Home Secretary introduced the bill in 1991 and has told LBC he “strongly supports” moves by the Prime Minister to ban the type of dog, saying it should be done "almost immediately". 

Lord Baker, who also served as Tory Chairman and Environment Secretary, said: “The existing number of these dogs will have to be neutered or destroyed. They should be removed from the dog-loving-public as soon as possible."

Questioned as to why he supports the tough action from Rishi Sunak, Lord Baker said: “This dog is bred in order to fight and to be aggressive, and it has done enough damage already."  

Read more: What does the XL Bully ban mean for dog owners?

Read more: XL bully breed to be banned in UK after spate of attacks - just hours after man savaged to death

Read more: Manslaughter arrest after two XL Bully dogs attack and kill a man outside a house near a Primary School

On existing American XL Bully dogs which survive, he told LBC they should be “totally muzzled the entire time”. 

One of the reasons why the Dangerous Dog Act was introduced was to combat Pitbull Terriers.

Lord Baker explained:"When I introduced the act, Pitbull Terriers over the following months slowly disappeared, and many were destroyed. And that is what has got to happen again with this dog as soon as possible".