**Two Men Arrested After XL Bully Killed in ‘Deliberate Attack’**
Two men have been apprehended following the death of an XL Bully dog in what authorities suspect was a deliberate and targeted assault in Berkshire. The suspects, aged 20 and 22, were taken into custody after the dog was intentionally harmed and gravely injured on the 29th of September in Slough, according to Thames Valley Police.
The arrests took place at a residence in the town last Friday, where police also discovered a quantity of cannabis. The 20-year-old suspect was arrested on charges including criminal damage, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B, and possession of an offensive weapon. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old was taken into custody for similar offenses related to the incident.
In a concerning development, the RSPCA disclosed alarming statistics showing a significant surge in abuse cases involving XL Bully dogs since the breed was banned by the government. Incidents have included decapitation, injury, and abandonment of these animals, with reports of neglect rising by 239% in the eight months following the ban implementation on December 31st of the previous year.
During the same period, intentional harm reports to XL Bully dogs surged to 103 from 39 in 2023, while incidents of abandonment skyrocketed by 692%, reaching 103 cases reported to the charity. The ban on XL Bully dogs was a response to several attacks on humans and other animals across the country, leading to the breed becoming a criminal offense to own in England and Wales without an exemption certificate starting February 1st.
Owners of XL Bully dogs are required to have their pets neutered, microchipped, muzzled in public, and kept on a lead among other restrictions. Witnesses or individuals with information related to the incident are urged to contact the authorities either through the police hotline at 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number 43240468625.