Police issue emergency plea to locate on-the-loose killer XL Bully

Police have issued an emergency plea to the public to help locate an on-the-loose XL Bully dog.

The banned breed had attacked another muscular mutt – Alfie, a Staffordshire bull terrier – which tragically died from its injuries.

Meanwhile, the Staffie’s female owner also sustained an injury to her hand in the mauling – though her wounds are understood not to be serious.

The XL Bully had been being walked along the Seat Naze hill path in the historic Lancashire town of Waterfoot when it savaged the terrier and injured the dog walker.

And Lancashire Police have said the killer Bully’s owner left the scene with the dog in tow following the attack on Wednesday afternoon.

Officers were called out at 2.38pm that day.

Then, on Saturday, police arrested a 29-year-old man from Rossendale on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control.

The man has since been released on bail, pending further investigation.

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But officers have been unable to track down the dangerous dog following what the force has called a “really distressing incident”.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “Efforts are continuing to locate the XL Bully.

“We would ask anyone with information on its whereabouts or anyone who witnessed the incident on Wednesday to contact the police.”

The force has also released an image of the XL Bully – the dog has a tan-coloured coat with a white chest, and is pictured wearing a reddish-brown collar.

Police have urged any members of the public with information on the incident to email 3000@lancashire.police.uk or call 101, quoting log 734 of October 23, 2024.

And officers have said to call 999 to report immediate sightings of the dog in question.

Since February 1, it has been an offence to sell, abandon, give away, breed, or walk an unleashed and unmuzzled XL Bully dog in England and Wales – with Scotland imposing the same legislation on February 23.

And according to the latest figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), more than 55,000 XL Bully dogs are thought to still be on Britain’s streets despite the ban.

Those convicted of breaching the safeguards could face up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to £5,000.