An 84-year-old man was left with serious injuries following the dog attack on Monday evening , where armed police shot dead the suspected XL Bully
On Monday, an elderly man was savagely attacked by a suspected XL Bully dog while he was walking through a residential area. In the chaos that followed, one neighbour attempted to rescue the man by attacking the dog with a yard brush, but the suspected XL Bully was only stopped after more than a dozen bullets were fired by police.
The incident occurred around 6.40pm, February 24, when armed police rushed to Bardsley Avenue in Warrington, following reports of the pensioner being attacked by a rampaging dog. The 84-year-old victim who had been set upon by the canine, which had broken loose from a local property, suffering significant injuries in a nearby garden.
In response to the threat, armed officers killed the aggressive XL Bully outside the home. They also terminated a second suspect XL Bully within the premises and took custody of a third, smaller dog.
Cheshire Police have confirmed that a total of 19 shots were fired at the dogs, citing “the sheer size and ferocity of these animals” as the reason for such forceful measures.
A local resident named Vic witnessed the entire ordeal unfold right across from his home and spoke to the Liverpool Echo. He recalled the shocking moment: “I was looking through the kitchen window and saw a guy lying on the floor in the driveway over the road. I thought he’d had a heart attack. Then I saw this massive dog.”
Acting swiftly, Vic detailed his attempt to intervene: “I ran over and battered it with my yard brush. I cracked it over the head, but it didn’t work. It wouldn’t get off him. I should have got a knife from the kitchen, really, but I didn’t think. I just grabbed the brush. If I’d had a gun handy I’d have used that.”
Vic showed remarkable composure in the face of chaos, quickly alerting a neighbour across the street to call the authorities. He recounted how armed police swiftly arrived on the scene to address the attack.
“The police arrived and we were told to get inside,” he shared. “We had to move away because the dog could have attacked us. All the neighbours were out in the street. I went back inside and looked through the window and saw the police shoot the dog dead. There were four or five shots.”
The events of the previous day had left Vic visibly shaken. Although he didn’t know the elderly victim, witnessing him lying helpless on the ground had a profound impact.
“It was really horrible,” Vic admitted. “I’m traumatised by what happened. There was blood on my boots and over my brush. It was everywhere.”
He mentioned leaving his brush outside after the incident, only for it to be taken away by the police.
Earlier that afternoon, on February 25, the ECHO observed a forensics team carefully collecting a yard brush in a plastic bag from the scene.
As a dog enthusiast with a history of owning multiple dogs, Vic expressed concern about the circumstances surrounding the attack. “Why was that dog outside? I’ve no idea.”
Another neighbour said the street had seen its “fair share of trouble” over the years, but he’d never heard of a dog attack here before. “Everyone round here has pretty little things with pink leads and slippers – you don’t see any bullies.”
The victim, a local man, was taken to Aintree Hospital, where his condition is currently described as critical but stable. Enquiries in relation to the incident are ongoing and a 29-year-old woman has since been arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a dog dangerously out of control causing serious injury.
She is currently being held in police custody assisting officers with their enquiries. Police are still trying to locate a 40-year-old man in relation to the incident.
Cheshire Constabulary Chief Constable Mark Roberts said: “This was an innocent man who was simply walking in the street when he was horrifically attacked by a suspected unregistered XL Bully. These dogs are like weapons; their physical attributes can make it like owning a loaded firearm with a questionable safety catch.
“The sheer size and ferocity of these animals mean that our firearms officers had to discharge 19 shots into them – all of which hit their targets – in order bring the incident to a conclusion and ensure the safety of the public. While the victim is now receiving the treatment that he requires, there is no doubt that this incident will impact him for the rest of his life.
“The danger to the public that these dogs pose is well known, which is why Cheshire Constabulary has been extremely proactive in enforcing the new regulations. So far we have already removed more than 100 XL Bullies from the streets of Cheshire, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure that those who don’t comply with the new regulations are held accountable.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cheshire Police at www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us, or call 101, quoting IML 2034464. For more details in relation to the laws surrounding XL Bully dogs visit – Ban on XL Bully dogs – GOV.UK.