Dog charity stops rehoming XL bullies after attack

XL bullies have been involved in a number of recent attacks

A charity that helped to rehome an XL bully dog later shot dead by police after attacking its new owner said it would no longer rehome the breed.

Denvor, an XL bully who was taken in by The Dogs Trust, mauled a woman in her 60s in a back garden in Brisley, Norfolk, on Monday afternoon before later being discovered by police at the village primary school.

Norfolk Constabulary said it took the decision to destroy the dog after it was unable to find a vet to sedate it.

The Dogs Trust, which has a large rehoming centre in Snetterton, Norfolk, said it had since launched an investigation into the dog's background.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that XL bully dogs would be banned by the end of the year following a spate of recent attacks, some of which were fatal.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "Denvor came to us via a local authority pound in the north west.

"We assess each dog individually when they come into our care… This assessment helps us understand how the dog is likely to respond to a range of experiences and situations.

"In light of the proposed ban, we do not expect to rehome XL bullies anytime in the future."

Police said the dog was tied to a post in the school car park in Brisley, between Dereham and Fakenham

XLs can weigh more than nine stone (60kg) and are strong enough to overpower an adult.

The woman who was attacked in Brisley was taken to hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

A member of the public had originally called the police after hearing the woman "screaming for help" from her garden on Gateley Road.

The dog was seen running loose towards Brisley Church of England Primary Academy after the attack and ended up in the school car park.

Pupils and teachers were inside the main school building at the time, police said.

Due to the threat to the wider public, and with permission of the owners, the dog was destroyed by officers.