Dog that savaged Hampshire woman outside home confirmed as XL Bully - and is detained

An XL Bully that savaged a “terrified” woman outside her home to leave her “living in fear” has now been confiscated. A woman in her 30s was attacked by the animal on December 22 in the communal area of her Waterlooville flat in Havant, Hampshire.

The canine lunged at her and sank its teeth into her stomach after bounding up the stairs of the shared space, leaving her with a large gash across her belly. She was treated at a hospital walk-in centre where she was given antibiotics for seven days.

On Friday, police said they were investigating the attack and were waiting to hear from the dog warden whether the dog was in fact an XL Bully. The force has now confirmed it was this breed and the dog has been removed from the address.

A police spokeswoman said: “We were called at 1.10pm on Friday December 22 to reports that a woman had been injured by a dog at an address on Laburnum Road in Waterlooville. Officers attended and an investigation was launched.

“As part of our enquiries, we have been working with the local dog warden, who has attended and confirmed that the dog involved is an XL Bully. The dog has been voluntarily surrendered by the owner and remains in kennels.”

The victim said: “I had my keys in my hand when the dog came bounding up the stairs towards me and sunk its teeth into my stomach. I was so shocked and scared…I just froze and went rigid. I tried to push her off before the male owner grabbed her and shoved her into the flat. He said ‘sorry’.

“I always knew the dog was vicious but never thought it would attack a human. It has attacked two dogs before. He can’t control it and doesn’t have it on a lead or wearing a muzzle which it is supposed to be.

“It’s made me terrified of everything. I don’t know if it will happen again, or whether the dog will be there again when I am. I shouldn’t be afraid in my own home. I don’t want to live with a dangerous dog near me. It could have been a child, which worries me to death.”

Havant Borough Council along with housing provider, The Guinness Partnership, have said they are looking into the incident.