Man arrested after girl attacked by bully XL dog in Birmingham

A 60-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a dog dangerously out of control after an 11-year-old girl was attacked.

Ana Paun was seriously injured by an American bully XL and Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, on Saturday.

West Midlands Police said the arrested man had since been bailed with conditions while inquiries continued.

The dog remains in secure kennels, the force added.

The 11-year-old had been visiting the shops with her 18-year-old sister when she noticed the dog in the street.

"The dog was staring at me and I got scared, so I started to run," Ana told the BBC as she recounted the attack.

"The dog grabbed my hand and started moving me about.

"I was so scared. I was screaming for help but [couldn't] do anything."

Ana suffered serious arm and shoulder injuries after being attacked by the dog, which had broken free from its collar twice.

She required hospital treatment including about eight stitches but has since returned home.

Two men who went to her aid and chased the dog across a garage forecourt were also injured and needed hospital treatment.

The attack prompted Home Secretary Suella Braverman to seek "urgent advice" on whether the breed should be banned.

But the Dog Control Coalition, a group which includes the RSPCA, Battersea Dogs Home and the Kennel Club, said banning specific breeds was not the solution, pointing to "irresponsible breeding, rearing and ownership".

The American bully XL is the largest variation of the American bully breed, a type of bulldog developed by breeding several dogs including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bulldog and English Bulldog.

It is not recognised as a specific breed by the Kennel Club, the UK's largest organisation for breeding and welfare.

• What is an American bully XL and should they be banned?
• Dog attacks increase by a third in five years
• Braverman seeks urgent advice on banning bully XLs

Four dog breeds are currently banned in the UK - the Pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro.

The prime minister's official spokesperson said the government wanted to convene a meeting with police and experts to define American bully XLs for the purposes of the Dangerous Dogs Act.

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