Dog show venue disputes XL bullies safety fears

A venue accused of allowing unmuzzled XL bullies at a dog show aimed at families has challenged claims public safety was put at risk.

West Midlands Police said The Hangar, in Wolverhampton, had disregarded people's welfare during the Best of Bullies event last summer, held months after a new law was introduced for the breed to be muzzled in public.

A hearing to review the venue's licence is to be held in the city on Thursday.

But a spokesperson for the venue said there was "no verifiable evidence" to substantiate the claims adding "speculative assertions without factual evidence serve only to inflame public opinion unfairly".

The breed was added to the list of banned dogs last year after a rise in attacks and deaths.

It is a criminal offence to now own them without an exemption certificate and those kept legally must be muzzled and on a lead in public places at all times.

The police force said dogs from the prohibited breed were at the event and unmuzzled XL bullies had been in close proximity to young children.

It said there were concerns around the premises' ability to protect the public and the failure to "sufficiently inform police licensing of the events held there, so sufficient risk assessments can implemented".

The spokesperson for the venue told BBC News the dog show was for all breeds, "explicitly inclusive of XL bullies, a breed that, to date, is not unlawful to have at a dog show or in public".

Dog specialists were on site during the event, overseeing and advising on the management of dogs which "demonstrates the care and responsibility exercised by the organisers", they added.

"The claims arising from this specific event are inconsistent with our track record and unfairly tarnish the reputation of a venue that has consistently acted responsibly."

Two previous dog shows had been held there without issue and those involved with the venue remained "deeply committed to public safety and regulatory compliance", the spokesperson said.

The venue has previously had its licence reviewed over other issues including late-night brawls, police said.

In response, the venue spokesperson said it had experienced challenges in its dealings with police and found the existing licence conditions "overly broad, vague and unenforceable".

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