A nine-month-old baby boy tragically died after being attacked by a family dog in Rogiet, south-east Wales, on Sunday, November 2. Officers and paramedics responded to the residential property after reports were made at around 6pm, and the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gwent Police confirmed that the dog responsible was a six-year-old XL Bully. The animal was seized following the incident and subsequently 'put down'.

The XL Bully breed had been added to the list of banned dogs in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act in late 2023, following links to fatal attacks. Despite this, the dog involved in the Rogiet attack had been proactively registered with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and a certificate of exemption was issued in 2024, prior to the full ban coming into effect.

Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Townsend of Gwent Police clarified that during the process of requesting a certificate of exemption, owners were not required to formally identify the dog’s breed. She stated that in cases involving a suspected banned breed, an official determination can only be made by a dog legislation officer (DLO) or a court-approved independent assessor. The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this time, with official identification of the dog deemed necessary for the inquiry.

ACC Townsend emphasized the police's responsibility to fully investigate the baby's death and urged the public to act responsibly, considering the potential impact of speculation, rumour, and commentary on the family and the integrity of the investigation. She also noted the significant community interest and concern surrounding the incident.

A Rogiet resident, Caroline Knight, 53, shared her belief that fireworks being set off near the house may have agitated the dog, causing it to panic and attack the baby.

The American XL Bully is a modern type of dog developed in the 1990s, representing the largest variation of the American bully type, which also includes the pocket and standard bully. It is believed to have been bred from breeds such as the American pit bull terrier, which was banned in the UK in 1991. Characterized by a heavy bone structure and a stocky, muscular body, fully grown adult males can weigh more than 57kg (9 stone).

Statistics reveal the breed's prevalence in incidents involving dangerous dogs; XL bullies constituted approximately half of all banned or dangerous dogs seized and euthanized by police forces in England and Wales last year. A freedom of information request by Radar indicated that 3,464 suspected XL bullies were seized in 2024, accounting for about 50% of the total 7,004 banned or dangerous dogs reported by 36 police forces.