XL Bully Attack Leaves 84-Year-Old Man Critically Injured in Warrington

Image credits: Lee Hudson/Alamy

An 84-year-old man was attacked on Monday by an XL bully dog and left critically injured, according to Cheshire Police. The victim was "savagely attacked" after being chased into a garden in Bardsley Avenue in Warrington, on Monday evening. Sean Garner, 30, from Liverpool, has been charged with being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog, causing serious injury and possession of a fighting dog. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Chester Magistrates' Court. A 29-year-old woman who was arrested as part of the investigation was previously released on conditional bail.

The victim remains in hospital after suffering "life-changing" injuries, the force said. Police confirmed earlier that after tests the dog had been confirmed as an XL bully. The incident has raised concerns about the dangers posed by these dogs, with Cheshire constabulary saying that having an XL bully is “like owning a loaded firearm”. Officers had to fire 19 rounds into two dogs to stop the incident, which left the victim fighting for his life. The chief constable of Cheshire constabulary, Mark Roberts, said that the physical attributes of these dogs make them like weapons, and that their size and ferocity mean that firearms officers had to discharge 19 shots into them to bring the incident to a conclusion and ensure the safety of the public.

The man was taken to Aintree hospital in Liverpool, where he remained in a critical but stable condition, police said. Officers said they had destroyed the XL bully involved in the attack and a second animal that was found in a nearby property. A third smaller dog was also seized. A woman, 29, was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a dog dangerously out of control causing serious injury. She remains in police custody. Police are also trying to find a 40-year-old man in connection with the incident. They urged any potential witnesses to come forward. It has been illegal to own an XL bully in Great Britain since February 2024 unless owners have a certificate of exemption and follow a number of other legal requirements.

Here are the key points of the incident: * An 84-year-old man was attacked by an XL bully dog in Warrington * The victim was left critically injured and is receiving treatment in hospital * A 30-year-old man has been charged with being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog * A 29-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a dog dangerously out of control causing serious injury * Police have destroyed two XL bullies and seized a third smaller dog * The incident has raised concerns about the dangers posed by XL bullies, with police saying that they are like loaded firearms. The police are committed to enforcing the new regulations and removing these dogs from the streets. So far, they have already removed more than 100 XL bullies from the streets of Cheshire.

The incident has sparked a debate about the ownership of XL bullies and the need for stricter regulations. The police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and are committed to doing all they can to ensure that those who don’t comply with the new regulations are held accountable. The victim and his family are receiving support from the police and other agencies, and the community is coming together to offer their help and assistance. The incident is a reminder of the importance of responsible dog ownership and the need for owners to take steps to prevent their dogs from causing harm to others.