‘Horrific’: Police shoot two American Bully dogs 19 times after 84-year-old attacked

Two American Bully dogs have been shot to death after police intervened in an attack on an 84-year-old pensioner in the UK.

Two American Bully dogs have been shot 19 times after British police intervened an attack on a pensioner.

Police also seized a smaller dog after the victim was ferociously assaulted as he walked down a residential street.

The dog escaped from a Warrington property around 6.40pm yesterday before dragging an 84-year-old man into a garden.

Cops made 19 shots at two dogs, both suspected to be XL Bully’s before seizing a third, smaller dog.

One dog was destroyed by firearms officers outside the property while another was destroyed inside.

XL Bully’s have been banned in the UK since December 31, 2023, meaning it’s now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allowed dogs to stray in England and Wales, according to animal charity Blue Cross.

The breed was responsible for 10 of 19 deaths caused by dogs in the UK between 2021 and 2023, leading to the banning.

Police suspect that the dog was an XL Bully. Picture: iStock

Chief constable Mark Roberts of Cheshire Police spoke of the “horrific attack” before depicting the dogs as “weapons”.

He continued: “Their physical attributes can make it like owning a loaded firearm with a questionable safety catch.

“The sheer size and ferocity of these animals mean that our firearms officers had to discharge 19 shots into them - all of which hit their targets - in order bring the incident to a conclusion and ensure the safety of the public.”

The victim remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

A 29-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a dog dangerously out of control, causing serious injury.

She remains in custody and is thought to be assisting with official inquiries.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as they try to find a 40-year-old man in connection.

The attack took place on Bardsley Ave in Warrington, England. Picture: Google Maps

“This was an innocent man who was simply walking in the street when he was horrifically attacked by a suspected unregistered XL bully,” Chief Constable Mark Roberts added.

“While the victim is now receiving the treatment that he requires, there is no doubt that this incident will impact him for the rest of his life.

“The danger to the public that these dogs pose is well known, which is why Cheshire Constabulary has been extremely proactive in enforcing the new regulations.

“So far we have already removed more than 100 XL Bullies from the streets of Cheshire, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure that those who don’t comply with the new regulations are held accountable.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101.

It follows the wide-reaching XL Bully ban which was rolled out at the start of 2024.

This means it is a criminal offence to own or possess this specific breed in England or Wales unless you have a valid certificate of exemption.

Even with this form of proof, owners must adhere to a long list of rules.

The government received 61,000 exemption applications before the deadline.

Anyone opting to not keep their XL Bully had to take it to a registered vet to be euthanised.

Cops have the authority to seize unregistered prohibited dogs with their owners facing up to six months in jail and/or unlimited fine.

The legislation followed a number of fatal attacks resulting in the laws being put in place.

An XL Bully is the largest kind of American bully dog with males often standing from 20 inches high at the shoulder.

Official figures do not exist, however there were over 10,000 hospital admissions for dog bites in the last recorded year.

Current data does not break these figures down by dog breed.

This story originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission