The point that James has been making to the media is that the focus on XL Bully dogs is distracting attention away from the wider picture. We are facing an epidemic of dog attacks in the UK and the situation has become much worse since the pandemic and the rise of home deliveries.
“This isn’t about a few bad breeds,” said James. “The problem is far more widespread, and our legal framework is broken. While politicians focus on headline grabbing stories about the XL Bully, nothing is being done about the injuries being caused on a daily basis by popular breeds such as the Jack Russell or the Border Collie.”
James told the Express that he has never dealt with an XL Bully case. That doesn’t mean to say the breed isn’t a danger, but it does suggest that the real problem lies elsewhere. Breeds such as Collies, Jack Russell/terrier type dogs, greyhounds, huskies and Akitas are all regularly feature in James’s caseload.
The issue of dog bites is highly nuanced. “Different breeds will be slightly more dangerous under different circumstances,” James told Express.co.uk, “with much coming down to a dog’s inherent genetic makeup.”
James explained that ninety percent of the claims we handle at Slee Blackwell involve single bites. They often feature dogs which are unwell, or are having a bad day. Very often the dogs will give signals that they should not be approached which the owners. ignore.
James, who has offered his services to the Government in an advisory capacity, has called for a wide ranging review of legislation in the UK. He points out that while the Dangerous Dogs Act bans certain breeds, people can still own a banned dog if they convince authorities they are a responsible owner, who will follow certain restrictions.
“We need to face up to the fact that all dogs can bite. But the Government is more comfortable bringing in legislation that deals with one specific breed which doesn’t impact the vast majority of dog owners. It’s so fundamentally flawed.”
