A girl, four, has been mauled by two ‘XL Bullies’ while out in a park with her mum in Sheffield.
The girl was attacked by two ‘loose dogs’ while playing just before 5.30pm on September 5.
Her injuries were not life-threatening. The dogs were later seized at a property and remain in police kennels.
Police did not specify which park the incident took place.
Only two days later, a boy, two, was bitten by a neighbour’s dog.
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier lunged towards the youngster and sank his teeth into him several times – his injuries, while not life-threatening, required hospital treatment.
The dog was removed and put down.
Chief Inspector Jonathan Greaves said: ‘We are continuing to see unprecedented demand from dangerous dogs across South Yorkshire.
‘We’re urging all dog owners to play their part in keeping everyone safe. You are responsible for your dog’s actions; you will be the one in court.
‘Please remember dogs are animals, they can sometimes be unpredictable in how they react to certain situations.
‘Please follow our advice, understand your dog and its behaviour, and seek help where necessary.’
XL Bullies were banned in January. The relatively new but popular dog breed has been behind a string of attacks in recent years.
Under the law, the dogs must be muzzled in public, neutered and microchipped. Breeding, selling, advertising, exchanging, abandoning, gifting, rehoming, or allowing XL Bully dogs to stray is illegal.
Similar bans have or are being introduced in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The XL Bully is a mix of pit bulls, other terriers and bulldogs. As the ‘XL’ in their name implies, the dogs often weigh just shy of 70kg and measure up to 23 inches from the ground to shoulder.
In 2021, out of four fatal dog attacks, the American Bully was responsible for two deaths, according to the advocacy group Bully Watch UK.
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