The child victim of a dog attack which prompted the home secretary to seek a change in the law says the animal should be put down and its owner jailed.

Ana Paun, 11, told Sky News: “I want him to go and die. I think the dogs like that should be banned.

“The owner should be in prison. He never did anything. He just let the dog bite everyone.”

Image:
Ana Paun

Meanwhile, police say they will speak to the owner of the crossbreed XL bully/Staffordshire bull terrier puppy that attacked people in Birmingham as the animal remains in “secure kennels”.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on Sunday she was seeking “urgent advice” about banning American XL bully dogs after footage showed the animal attacking Ana and a man in Bordesley Green.

Ms Braverman said the dogs were a “clear and lethal” danger after the video of the attack appeared on the social media platform TikTok.

Ana can be heard screaming in the disturbing footage as people gather around to help her.

West Midlands Police has said two men, who were bitten and left with injuries to their shoulders and arms, were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries after the incident on Saturday.

In a statement released on Monday, West Midlands Police said: “We are continuing to investigate after three people were injured when a dog broke free from its collar in Bordesley Green on Saturday afternoon.

“The crossbreed bully XL/Staffordshire bull terrier puppy chased an 11-year-old girl and she sustained serious injuries to her shoulder and forearms. She was treated in hospital and is now recovering at home.

“Several people rushed to her aid and as the dog broke free from its owner a second time, a 20-year-old man was chased across a garage forecourt and was taken to hospital with bites to his shoulder and forearm, along with cuts and bruises from being dragged across the floor.”

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‘Dog owner should be in prison’

Police added that another man also suffered injuries and took himself to hospital, and the dog was seized by officers before being taken to a secure kennels.

“The dog’s owner is currently in hospital and we will be speaking to him in due course,” the force said, before describing the incident as “alarming and shocking”.

Ms Braverman’s comments also come as the mother of a 10-year-old boy killed by an XL bully dog questioned why the government has not acted sooner to ban the breed.

Emma Whitfield’s son, Jack Lis, was attacked by an XL bully named Beast in Caerphilly, South Wales, two years ago.

Writing on X, previously known as Twitter, Ms Whitfield said: “It’s crazy how this video has gone viral and now politicians are coming out of the woodwork saying how bad it is.

“Where were you when my son was killed? Where were you when other innocent people were killed? Where were you when I was at Parliament asking for change? Nowhere.”

Brandon Hayden and Amy Salter were later jailed after admitting to being in charge of the out-of-control dog that killed Jack.

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Could American XL bully dogs be banned?

Government taking dog attacks ‘seriously’

Including the XL bully on the list of banned breeds falls under the responsibility of Environment Secretary Therese Coffey’s department, but there are said to be some reservations regarding the practicality of implementing such a measure.

The XL bully, stemming from the American pit bull terrier, is not recognised as a distinct breed by the Kennel Club. So it could be hard to define and some fear a ban could inadvertently outlaw a range of other dogs.

Four breeds of dog are currently banned in the UK: the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said: “We take dog attacks and anti-social behaviour very seriously and are making sure the full force of the law is being applied.

“This can range from lower-level community protection notices – which require dog owners to take appropriate action to address behaviour – to more serious offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act, where people can be put in prison for up to 14 years, be disqualified from ownership, or result in dangerous dogs being euthanised.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office said it took the issue “extremely seriously” but did not give further details on the proposed law change.