Doncaster boy, 3, needs surgery after XL bully 'mauling' - police

Police were called to the incident by the ambulance service on Monday 18 March

A three-year-old boy needed surgery to his face after he was "mauled" by an XL bully in Doncaster, police have said.

The family pet, registered due to its breed, bit the boy after he was allowed to climb on the dog on Monday.

Due to the nature of his injuries, police were called.

Ch Insp Emma Cheney, from South Yorkshire Police, said: "A dog's instinct to protect itself is to bite. Parents should ensure children learn to respect a dog's space."

Yorkshire Ambulance Service took the boy to the hospital where he required surgery, a force spokesperson said.

"This family have acknowledged the change in legislation around the XL bully and registered their dog," Ch Insp Cheney said.

"But this doesn't remove the danger these dogs pose and why the ban has come into place.

"All dogs can be aggressive, they are animals. But some dogs have greater capability to cause harm due to their size and strength."

Children should never be unsupervised when with dogs, regardless of their breed, Ch Insp Cheney added.

The dog was seized by officers and remained in the force's kennels during an investigation, South Yorkshire Police said.

Incident Room: XL Bully ban, what next?

BBC Reporter Jordan Davies asks experts why the ban on the American XL bully dog is controversial, and what impact it is likely to have.

Watch now on BBC iPlayer (UK only)