Matt Fiddes has branded the XL Bully a ‘serious risk’ and says it ‘should not be a family pet’.
The Swindon-born martial arts expert and self-made millionaire has called on the government to introduce a dog licence – with higher fees for more dangerous breeds.
Father-of-six Matt, a panelist on GB News and was previously Michael Jackson’s bodyguard, wants to see the introduction of measures to prevent deaths and serious injury.
He voiced his opinion after Ian Price, a dad of two in his 50s, was killed by two out of control XL Bully dogs in Staffordshire on Friday (15 September).
“The American XL Bully is not fit to be a family pet – they were bred to defend and attack, effectively replacing the Pit Bull following their ban”, Matt said.
He continued: “I am calling on the government to introduce a licensing system for all dogs, classifying dogs by dangerousness. The more of a danger they are to the public, the higher the fees paid.
“I would also like to see an insurance-related law that commands all owners to have dogs insured. I would make it super expensive and virtually impossible to get insurance for the XL Bully or other dogs related to the breed.
“I would also like to see a law that prevents dogs like the XL Bully to be out in public without a muzzle.
“The government muzzled us for two years in Covid – perhaps they should take action and muzzle these dogs!
“How many more innocent victims need to die before people wake up to the reality that these dogs pose a serious risk to the public? As a father-of-six, it’s extremely worrying.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announce that following the death of Ian Price, XL Bully dogs will be outlawed by the end of the year.
In a statement, he said: “The American XL bully dog is a danger to our communities, particularly our children.
“I share the nation’s horror at the recent videos we’ve all seen. Yesterday we saw another suspected XL bully dog attack, which has tragically led to a fatality.
“It is clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs, it’s a pattern of behaviour and it cannot go on.
“While owners already have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control, I want to reassure people that we are urgently working on ways to stop these attacks and protect the public.
“Today I have tasked ministers to bring together police and experts, to firstly define the breed of dog behind these attacks, with the view to then outlawing it.
“It is not currently a breed defined in law, so this vital first step must happen fast.
“We will then ban the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act and new laws will be in place by the end of the year.
“These dogs are dangerous, I want to reassure the public that we will take all necessary steps to keep people safe.”
