Pictured: XL Bully which mauled dog walker in Sunderland to death

Pictured: XL Bully which mauled dog walker in Sunderland to death ‘while he was trying to protect his pup from the crazed animal’ – as police arrest ‘owner’ amid murder probe

This is believed to be the XL Bully that mauled a dog owner to death while he was trying to protect his pup from the crazed animal which has allegedly attacked at least two dogs previously.

Ian Langley, 54, was set upon on the estate in Sunderland last night by an enormous soon to be banned brown and white XL Bully which grabbed him by the neck as he bent down to pick up his Patterdale terrier pup.  

The dog is said to have ‘torn out the throat’ of Mr Langley, who was left needing CPR for around 15 minutes as emergency services fought to staunch heavy bleeding from his wounds. The 54-year-old father tragically succumbed to his injuries. His dog survived. 

A 44-year-old man from the Maple Terrace area of Shiney Row, Sunderland, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The latest attack, which is the sixth fatality caused by an XL Bully this year comes as the Government looks to ban the breed which are disproportionately represented in attacks. It also comes after a nurse revealed she had been bitten by a Bully-type in Paignton, Devon last week.

This is believed to be the XL Bully that mauled a dog owner to death while he was trying to protect his pup from the crazed animal. Locals say the animal has attacked at least two dogs previously

Ian Langley, (pictured) originally from Liverpool, was set upon on the Shiney Row estate last night by an enormous XL Bully breed which grabbed him by the neck as he bent down to pick up his Patterdale terrier pup

The 54-year-old father tragically succumbed to his injuries, but his Patterdale terrier pup (pictured) survived the horrific attack

Police cordon off Maple Street, Shiney Row in Sunderland today

A woman who claims to have previously reported the arrested man to police told MailOnline the XL Bully that attacked Mr Langley had launched other attacks before last night’s killing.

She said of yesterday’s attack: ‘It was the male dog, a big brown and white one, which attacked my elderly neighbour’s dog. Something should have been done about it at that stage.’

Another neighbour claimed the dog owner was getting a ‘bit of trouble about his dogs because people were complaining they were attacking other dogs’.

‘But I would never say he was an irresponsible dog owner, in fact he used to walk them at night when there were fewer dogs around,’ the resident added.

‘They were well cared for and looked after. A dog can attack for any reason, it doesn’t mean the owner is negligent.’

Mr Langley’s friend Janice Gonzales said that she is aware of at least two community members whose dogs were attacked by the XL Bully that killed her friend, but added that ‘apparently there have been more than that’.

‘Ian was here at 3pm on Tuesday, chatting and helping to weed my back yard. He said he’d come back today to help me with my allotment because I suffer arthritis,’ she recalled.

‘That’s the kind of man he was, kind and helpful and friendly. He always walked Beau along that same route but on Tuesday night something happened and it seems as though the bully went for Beau and Ian picked her up to try to keep her safe. 

Forensics teams investigate a shocking XL Bully dog attack today

A man has died after being savagely attacked by an XL Bully in Sunderland

The attack happened on Maple Terrace in Shiney Row near Sunderland

‘The dog’s got hold of him and the injuries were terrible. We were up all night waiting for news because we heard to begin with that he’d survived. My daughter came round devastated to say he had died and it was just awful. 

‘Beau ran away during the attack and we thought she must have been killed as well but she was found and someone brought her to us and we took her in to look after her.

Fatal American XL Bully attacks in 2023

January 12 – 28-year-old Natasha Johnston is killed in Caterham, Surrey by the XL Bully breed

January 31 – 4-year-old Alice Stones is killed after being attacked by the killer breed in Milton Keynes

April 22 – Wayne Stevens, 51, dies after being set upon by an XL Bully and Cane Corso mix in Derby 

May 19 – Jonathan Hogg, 37, is killed by an XL Bully in Leigh 

September 14 – Father-of-two Ian Price, 53, is mauled to death by two XL Bullys in Stonall, Staffordshire

October 3 – Ian Langley, 54, is killed after an enormous soon to be banned XL Bully breed mauled his throat in Sunderland

‘We also have a male Patterdale and Ian had talked of breeding them. She was a bit shaken but she’s doing OK now. He loved her and she was a great companion for him.

‘I don’t know the owner of the Bully very well. I’ve only met him once and he said he was into martial arts, but I know no more about him.’

Residents living close by have described the pandemonium before police arrived at the scene to shoot the savage dog and arrest its owner.

A resident living close to the attack recalled: ‘We were told ‘go in, shut your doors’ and then I heard the gun shot. 

‘The dog was shot in the owner’s yard. I don’t know what set the dog off, everyone is speculating.’

Speaking of the paramedics, she said: ‘It was awful to see, you don’t expect it on your doorstep.’

A local dog owner, who asked not to be named, frequently saw two XL bullies being walked in the area.

He saw the man’s throat had been injured.

He said: ‘I heard a girl screaming for the police, saying the man was dying.

‘The man got put in the ambulance and they were working on him here for about ten minutes before they set off.

‘I have seen the two dogs before, they are well known in the area, an older one and a younger one.

‘They shot the older one in the yard.’

A resident who knew the victim said: ‘He was walking his pup, which is a Patterdale terrier, when an XL Bully ran up and went for his pup.

‘He picked up the pup to protect him and the XL Bully bit him. The police shot the dog in the street and apparently removed a litter of pups from the house. The guy who was bitten lives for his dogs.

Witness Laura Reynolds watched the horrifying fatal attack unfold 

A smashed window at the scene of the shocking incident in Sunderland 

Residents living along the quiet estate were subjected to a scene of horror last night 

The dog was ‘destroyed at the scene to ensure the safety of the public’

Residents living along the street were reportedly told to ‘get inside’

The owner of the dog has since been arrested and his animal has been destroyed 

A woman arrives with floral tributes at the scene of the incident 

‘He had an old dog that was aged 17 which died last year, he’s a dog lover and would do anything to protect them. He seemed to be in a really bad way and people here are just praying for him to recover.’

READ MORE: Woman’s horrific wounds inflicted by ‘Bully-type’ dog which attacked her while she was out walking 

Northumbria Police said: ‘An investigation has been launched after a man was seriously injured by a dog in Sunderland.

‘Shortly before 6.55pm on Tuesday, police received a report that a dog had injured a man outside of an address on Maple Terrace in Shiney Row. Emergency services attended the scene and the man – in his 50s – was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

‘A 44-year-old man was arrested in connection with the report. He remains in police custody at this time.

‘The dog was destroyed at the scene to ensure the safety of the public. A second dog was also seized from the address as a precaution.

‘There is no wider risk to the public, and police remain in the area to offer reassurance to the community.’

The distressing incident has already cast a wide shadow over the close knit Shiney Row community.  

Neighbour Linda Blyth, 56, said: ‘It was really awful, it’s a tragedy for everyone involved, but especially the family of the man who was attacked. 

The government has said it will ban XL Bullies by the end of the year (file image)

The number of fatal dog attacks in the UK have soared in recent years – hitting a record high in 2022

‘It happened on the grassed area in front of the houses and we’re not sure exactly what started it.

What is an American Bully XL and what makes it so dangerous? 

American bullies are a relatively new breed, having originated in the 1980s. 

They are mixed breed bulldogs, typically American pitbull terriers crossed American, English and Olde English bulldogs. 

Despite their relative popularity in the UK, they are not officially registered as a breed by the UK Kennel Club, making it difficult to know exactly how many are in the country. 

They are seen as ‘status symbols’ and are often purchased for their intimidating looks. 

Though the bully XL is the most common, the dogs can also be bred with mastiffs and other larger dogs to make them bigger, XXL or even XXXL. 

Controversial and illegal practices such as ear cropping are also carried out to make them appear more intimidating. 

The males can weigh between 70 and 130 pounds of muscle bone and have enormous strength. 

The ‘status symbol’ nature of the dogs has seen them become something of a weapon, purchased by people who want a thuggish and scary looking dog. 

Despite their lack of official certification, there is also a booming market with puppies regularly sold on Facebook and through places like Gumtree for anywhere between £500 and £3,000. 

However, experts are at pains to warn of their potentially dangerous nature, especially if their aggression is encouraged. 

They descend from bull-baiting dogs and if they aren’t trained properly then their aggression could surface.   

This could pose a real threat to humans, particularly children, and has been seen in several shocking recent deaths involving the dog.  

‘It seems as though the man was trying to get his puppy out of the way when the XL Bully took hold of him. The streets were very quickly filled with police, there were blue lights everywhere and they were working to try to make the area safe. I could see paramedics working on the injured man. They were doing CPR but were also trying to stop the blood.’

Another witness said: ‘His injuries were horrific and looked to me to be unsurvivable, I’ve never seen anything like it. 

‘Once a dog that big and powerful latches on they don’t let go and it has caused some really terrible damage to him.

‘The guy had a puppy with him which ran away and was missing for a while but was found later by people on the estate and seems to be OK now.’

Mr Langley, who was known as ‘Scouse’ in the area has been described as a ‘canny lad’ by residents of the housing estate.

One mum said the area is plagued by dangerous dogs and added that the horror attack was ‘an accident waiting to happen’.

She said: ‘The dogs in question have already been reported on numerous occasions for attacking other dogs.

‘But the police have done nothing until it has attacked a human. It’s quite a bad area here for dogs.

‘We’ve heard the victim had his throat bitten. It went for the throat.

‘He was covered in blood and police did CPR for 15 mins before he was blue lighted to hospital.

‘It’s really worrying for me as I have children. You get to the point where you are scared to let them do anything.

‘The dogs here aren’t being taken care of properly, and are out of control.’

There was a massive police presence at the scene today with a huge cordon in place.

It is understood the second dog, which was taken away by the police, had recently had pups.

A friend of the victim said: ‘Scouse had a dog himself he used to walk all over the place. He didn’t deserve to die.

‘He was a canny lad. He was friendly. It’s a tragedy.’

Another local added: ‘He was a very friendly person. He’d always say hello. He seems a nice man. It’s a scary thing to have happened.

‘I got taken straight to my door last night as I wasn’t sure if the dogs were still on the loose.’

A 44-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident

North East Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called to an incident on Maple Terrace, Shiney Row just after 7pm.

READ MORE: Young mother heard ‘screams’ and ran out of her home to find toddler with blood ‘pouring down his leg’ after ‘XL Bully attack’

‘We dispatched two double crewed ambulances, a specialist paramedic and a clinical team leader. One patient was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.’

Detective Chief Inspector Angela Hudson, of Northumbria Police, said: ‘First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the man’s family and loved ones.

‘This is an absolutely tragic incident, and we will continue to offer them support in any way that we can.

‘A full investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances of what has happened.

‘I would like to reassure the wider community that there is no ongoing risk to them, and officers will remain in the area to offer reassurance and carry out enquiries.

‘While our investigation is at an early stage, we do believe those involved were known to each other.

‘I would also continue to ask people not to speculate about the incident online, including on social media, while enquiries are ongoing.’

THE TRAGIC BRITS KILLED BY AMERICAN BULLY XL DOGS IN RECENT YEARS

THE 52-YEAR-OLD MAULED TO DEATH BY TWO XL BULLIES OUTSIDE A PRIMARY SCHOOL

Father-of-two Ian Price, from Stonnall, Staffordshire, was killed by the two dogs which jumped out of a neighbour’s window yards from a primary school in September. 

 Mr Price reportedly died defending his elderly mother from the animals.

Witnesses said the dogs entered Mr Price’s mother’s garden through a hedge before ‘setting’ on him in an attack said to have lasted up to 20 minutes. 

The dogs bit Mr Price and ripped the clothes from his body leaving him dying in a pool of blood in his boxer shorts in Thursday afternoon’s horror attack just feet from his home. 

Father-of-two Ian Price (pictured), from Stonnall, Staffordshire, was killed by the two dogs which jumped out of a neighbour’s window yards from a primary school. He reportedly died defending his elderly mother from the animals

These are the dogs believed to have been involved in the attack, according to locals. One of the animals died while being restrained; the other was given a lethal injection by a vet

THE 10-YEAR-OLD ATTACKED WHILE PLAYING WITH A FRIEND

Jack Lis, ten, died in November 2021 after suffering catastrophic injuries after being mauled by a seven stone dog while playing at a friend’s house in South Wales.

The dog named Beast, was shot dead by armed police officers following the attack on Jack.

After Beast’s death it was found to be an 115lb American Bully or XL Bully. The dog is believed to have been given away for free on Facebook. 

Jack Lis was attacked by the XL bully dog while playing with a friend at a house after school in Pentwyn 

Little Jack Lis suffered ‘severe injuries to the head and neck’ when he was set upon by the seven stone XL Bully while playing at his friend’s home

THE 17-MONTH-OLD GIRL MAULED AT HOME IN FRONT OF HER PARENTS

Bella-Rae Birch was just 17 months old when an American Bully XL mauled her to death at her home in Blackbrook, St Helen’s on March 21. 

The dog had been bought by her father ‘for buttons’ just one week earlier and was ‘humanely destroyed’ following the shocking attack, Merseyside Police said.

According to her devastated mother, the family had been given the dog a week before the incident and had made sure that it was safe for the children.

No legal proceedings took place as Bella-Rae was not on her own when the attack happened and the dog wasn’t under the Dangerous Dog Act.

Bella-Rae Birch, pictured, was mauled to death by an American Bully dog which had been recently bought by her father Ryan 

SCOTTISH KENNEL OWNER MAULED, LEAVING HIS FIVE KIDS ORPHANS

Adam Watts, 55, was attacked at the Juniper Kennels and Cattery in Kirkton of Auchterhouse, near Dundee, and was pronounced dead at the scene on December 22 in 2021. 

The bully – who was involved in an incident with another dog – had been put into the care of Mr Watts’ kennels by police after being seized under warrant in August. 

Tributes were paid to Mr Watts online after news of his death broke, with one dog charity praising his ‘gentle, calm nature’ in trying to gain the trust of abused animals in his care. 

Mr Watts left behind five sons, aged between 10 and 18, who lost their mother Eileen Watts in 2013 to cancer, at the age of 46. 

Adam Watts, 55, was attacked at the Juniper Kennels and Cattery in Kirkton of Auchterhouse, near Dundee, and was pronounced dead at the scene on December 22 in 2021

FATHER KILLED BY SON’S BULLY AFTER BEING BITTEN ON THE LEG 

A two-year-old American Bully dog known as Cookie sunk its teeth into the leg of Keven Jones, the father of its owner, in north Wales in May 2022. 

His daughter-in-law Chanel Fong needed someone to help care for Cookie and their other four dogs while she went out, with the son Josh away at Wembley watching a football match.

She came in to the house on Holt Road, Wrexham, on 23 May and heard Keven shouting: ‘He’s got me’.

As she turned the corner, Fong found him laying on the floor, blood gushing from his leg. 

He later died of blood loss. 

Keven Jones, 62, had gone to Wrexham to help look after his son’s dogs, one of which fatally attacked him

Cookie-Doe (pictured) was put down by a veterinarian at the scene following after he bit Keven Jones

MOTHER-OF-TWO MAULED AFTER BULLY ‘SNAPPED AND WENT MAD’

Joanne Robinson, 43, was mauled to death by her pet American Bully XL dog after it ‘turned mad in the extreme heat’ in July 2022. 

Her partner, Jamie Stead, 42, was left with injuries to his hands, stomach and face as he tried to saved her and pull the animal off her.

Joanne had two XL Bully dogs – Rocco who was nearly two, and Lola.

Ms Robinson’s heartbroken son paid tribute to his mother, calling her his ‘best friend’ and a ‘caring mum and the best Nannan to my kids.’ 

Joanne Robinson (pictured) owned two Bully XLs and was killed by one of them in 2022

Joanne is understood to have been the owner of the animal, called Rocco (pictured), which is on the legal dog breeds list and attacked her at around 10pm 

DOG WALKER MAULED BY XL BULLY AS THEY PLAYED

Ian Symes, who weighed 7st 12 lbs and was 5ft 10ins, was walking a ‘powerful’ American Bully XL at a public park in Fareham, Hampshire when it overpowered him. 

The Bully XL reverted to its ‘aggressive’ natural instincts and repeatedly bit down on Mr Symes’ neck after he began playing with it.

The dog weighed a massive 8st 3lbs. 

It was the first time Mr Symes tried to take it out for a walk, just a day after a friend bought it from travellers over Snapchat 

Ian Symes, from Fareham, had owned Rottweilers in the past and photographs on social media show him smiling lovingly with his pets 

WIDOWED GRANDMOTHER VICIOUSLY ATTACKED IN HER OWN HOME

Retired nurse Shirley Patrick, 83, died in hospital 17 days after suffering ‘life-threatening injuries’ during a ‘hellish’ and ‘violent’ dog attack in Caerphilly, South Wales on December 3, 2022. 

She suffered ‘traumatic lacerations’ and significant wounds to her head, body, face and arms during the attack.

Her provisional cause of death was given as ‘sepsis caused by pneumonia and infected scalp wounds’ following the attack.

She was attacked by a large black XL Bully Cross Cane Corso – just half a mile from where Jack Lis was previously killed. 

Shirley Patrick, 83, died in hospital 17 days after suffering ‘life-threatening injuries’ in the attack

DOG WALKER MAULED TO DEATH BY PACK OF DOGS 

The country was horrified after Natasha Johnston, 28, was mauled to death by the eight animals she was walking in a Surrey park in January. 

Witnesses to the horrific attack said the dogs turned into a pack of ‘wolves’ when they attacked Natasha at the Gravelly Hill beauty spot in Caterham. 

She died from multiple bites to the neck, including one that perforated her jugular vein, an inquest heard. Eight dogs were seized at the scene of the frenzied attack.

Police confirmed last month that Ms Johnston’s dog was the only animal to have been destroyed, which they believe to be an American Bully XL. 

Natasha Johnston died from multiple bites to the neck

FOUR-YEAR-OLD SAVAGED IN VICIOUS GARDEN ATTACK

Four-year-old Alice Stones was mauled to death by a dog in the back garden of her home in Milton Keynes.

The breed of the dog that killed her has not been officially confirmed but is believed to be an American bully. 

The tragic girl’s family revealed that the dog was a family pet. It was later put down by police. 

Alice’s mother was described as being distraught and ‘completely heartbroken’.

The dog at the centre of a fatal attack on a four-year-old girl Alice Stones (pictured) in Milton Keynes was a family pet

FATHER KILLED BY ‘OUT OF CONTROL’ BULLY

Jonathan Hogg was killed last month by an ‘out of control’ dog just four months after his son’s birth – and three days before his daughter turned two. 

The dog was forced into a cabin in a yard next to a static caravan and, when armed officers arrived, the animal was shot dead. 

Greater Manchester Police later searched two houses and seized 15 dogs, including six adults and nine puppies, believed to be the same breed as that which attacked Mr Hogg.

Jonathan Hogg, 37, died after being mauled by an American Bully XL dog

What is the Dangerous Dogs Act? Which dogs are banned? And why is it controversial? 

WHAT IS THE DANGEROUS DOGS ACT?

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans or restricts certain types of dogs and makes it an offence to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control.

It was introduced 30 years ago by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker ‘to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs’ after a string of attacks.

WHICH DOGS ARE BANNED IN THE UK?

It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court. They are:

• American pitbull terriers
• Japanese tosas
• Dogo Argentinos
• Fila Brazileiro  

The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog – meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics and whether they match the description of a prohibited ‘type’.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE’S A DOG ATTACK?

You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months if your dog is dangerously out of control. 

You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed.

If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined. If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with ‘malicious wounding’.

And if you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine. 

WHY IS THE ACT CONTROVERSIAL? 

Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association have protested against the ban, insisting there is no scientific evidence that all individuals of a breed are dangerous.

However, Met Police data suggests that in incidents involving ‘dangerously out of control dogs’, banned breeds account for about a fifth of offences.

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