Breed of ‘family’ dog that savaged nine-month-old baby boy to death confirmed

The breed of dog that mauled a baby boy to death has been confirmed by police in south east Wales.

Officers were called to a report of a dog attack at an address in Crossway, Rogiet at around 6pm on Sunday.

The nine-month-old baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gwent Police has confirmed that the family pet was a six-year-old XL Bully and had been registered with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

A police spokesman said the XL Bully was sedated, removed from the property and put down by a vet.

Assistant chief constable Vicki Townsend confirmed there have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.

She warned against online speculation, saying: ‘We understand that there is a significant amount of interest and concern about this incident, and we have seen the community rally together in this difficult time.

‘It is our responsibility as a police service to ensure that the death of a baby boy is fully investigated and so we again urge people to be responsible, and to consider the impact that speculation, rumour, and commentary can have on the family and on the integrity of our investigation.’

They added: ‘Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.’

A ban on XL Bullies in England & Wales came into full effect on 1 February 2024, meaning it is a criminal offence to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate.

The BBC reported that data from 19 police forces in England and Wales show that in the first eight months since the ban 1,991 suspected banned dogs had been seized.

With kennels become overcrowded and costing millions 818 dogs had been destroyed since the ban came in, more than double than in 2023.

Locals speculated that loud fireworks could have triggered the family dog.

Peter Strong, Monmouthshire County Councillor for the Rogiet ward, said ‘the community is very much in mourning’ and that there is ‘a profound sense of shock’.

He added: ‘Clearly, our thoughts are with the family, to lose a baby in these circumstances, a thing of deep joy and love, to have that taken away from you… It’s unbelievably awful.

‘I’d like to appeal to the community to remain calm and give the police a chance to do their work and to give the family the chance to grieve in peace.’

Chief Superintendent John Davies said: ‘We understand that there will be concerns around this incident, but officers are on scene and will be making further enquiries as the investigation progresses.’

Rogiet is a village and parish in the county of Monmouthshire in Wales with a population of around 2,000.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called today to reports of a medical emergency in Rogiet, Caldicot.

‘We sent one Cymru High Acuity Response Unit, an Advanced Paramedic Practitioner, a Duty Operations Manager and one Emergency Ambulance. Crews were supported by our Hazardous Area Response Team.’

Crime scene investigation vehicles were seen at the home on Monday morning after emergency services had left the scene.