People are calling for XL bully dogs to be banned in the UK after an 11-year-old girl was hurt in a dog attack in Birmingham.
This particular debate was discussed on Good Morning Britain on Monday (11 September), and things certainly got heated.
Watch it below:
On the ITV show, dog trainer Kay Taiwo, alongside an XL bully dog, joined hosts Ed Balls and Ranvir Singh.
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The debate turned pretty intense, though GMB viewers have made their mind up, with 80 percent of them thinking XL bully dogs should be banned.
XL bully dogs are a larger version of pitbull terriers and are not recognised by the main dog associations in the UK.
As you'd expect with their name, XL bully's are rather large and heavy - weighing anywhere between 20-60kg and measuring around 33-50cm in height.
On Saturday (9 September), three people - including an 11-year-old girl - were bitten by an out-of-control XL bully in Bordesley Green, Birmingham.
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West Midlands Police said in a statement: "We’re investigating after three people were bitten by a dog in Birmingham yesterday (9 September).
"An 11-year-old girl ran past the dog as it was being walked by its owner in Bordesley Green, when she was bitten.
"Two men intervened but were bitten and left with injuries to their shoulders and arms.
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"They were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries.
"The dog was initially taken to a local vet to be checked over before being taken into secure kennels while the investigation continues.
"The owner of the dog has been spoken to by officers.
"Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch via Live Chat quoting log 3245 of 9/9."
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As a result of the attack, the discussion as to whether XL bully dogs should be banned has gathered momentum in recent days.
However, banning the dogs may not be so simple.
Adding the dogs to the banned list is the responsibility of Environment Secretary Therese Coffey’s department, but due to the fact the dog is not recognised as a specific breed by the Kennel Club, it could make it difficult to define and therefore inadvertently ban a range of other dogs.
Since the news broke, many have flocked to social media to discuss whether the dogs or the owners are at fault for the vicious attacks.
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One person on X wrote: "Its a status dog. Either ban them or license them to stop them getting into the wrong hands."
A second added: "The evidence is clear so if a consequence is a ban that's what has to happen..."
Meanwhile, others put the blame on dog owners rather than the breed itself.
One person penned on Facebook: "Banning certain people from owning dogs would solve the problem! I see people time and time again who have no clue how to handle their dogs and then get mad at the dog!
"The dog isn't the problem!!"
And a second remarked: "Ban the owners not the dogs! Why are they not getting it?!"
The UK government has even got involved in the debate, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman issuing a stark warning on social media.
"This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children," she wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
"We can’t go on like this. I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them."
Callum Jones