An XL Bully dog escaped on Thursday night after armed police were called to the scene, and the dog was shot by the police.
An “aggressive” XL Bully dog is still at large in Sheffield after managing to dodge capture, even after being shot by police. The elusive canine made its getaway in the Hillfoot area as armed officers descended upon the scene, responding to reports of gunfire at a residence on Thursday night.
Upon arrival, the police encountered the dog along with two others of the same breed and discharged a firearm, but the dog managed to flee, reports the Mirror. South Yorkshire Police have been actively searching for the animal and, in an update this evening, a spokesperson from the force confirmed that the dog has not yet been found.
The public has been warned to stay vigilant, avoid approaching the dog, and to report any sightings to the authorities. Forensic examination of blood found at the scene indicates that the XL Bully was wounded before it escaped. Meanwhile, the other two dogs were seized and are now in police kennels.
The police have reached out to veterinary clinics throughout the city in their efforts to track down the dog, which they warn could potentially be dangerous and pose a threat to people. In a statement, the police expressed: “Shooting a dog is never a decision taken lightly by our armed officers.
“We have contacted all veterinary practices as part of our enquiries but continue to ask anyone who has received a dog into their care, they believe could be this dog to come forward. If you see the dog, we continue to urge you not to approach it, as we believe it has the ability to show aggression and cause harm.”
In the midst of a tense situation, with risks escalating, authorities made the call to shoot a dog in order to expedite the search for a suspect and weapon, prioritising community safety. It is now believed that the dog has sustained injuries, prompting an alert for the public to keep an eye out for a loose XL Bully, which may either be injured or have been taken for treatment.
South Yorkshire Police’s Chief Superintendent for Sheffield, Jamie Henderson, spoke on Friday, reassuring the public: “I would like to assure you that we are doing all we can to locate the dog or find those who may have housed it to evade police contact.
“We appreciate people in our communities being vigilant, and I ask that you get in touch immediately if you see the dog. I urge you not to approach the dog, as we believe it has the ability to show aggression and cause harm.
“If you do see the dog, please call 999 immediately, if you have information about its whereabouts, please get in touch online, via live chat or by calling 101 quoting incident number 948 of 3 April 2025.”
As of February 1 last year, it became a criminal offence in England and Wales to own an XL Bully dog without a valid Certificate of Exemption.
The cut-off date for applying for this certificate was set for July 31, 2024.
The decision to include the XL Bully breed on the Dangerous Dogs list came in the wake of numerous fatal incidents. In 2023 alone, these dogs were implicated in at least 16 deadly attacks across the UK.
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