THE owner of an XL Bully which attacked another dog and its owner, causing them both serious injuries, has admitted being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog.

Following a Thurrock Neighbourhood Policing Team investigation into the attack in East Tilbury, Danny Dodge, 27, was charged with being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog which injured another person while out of control and of having in his possession, or custody, a dog to which section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applies.

Chelmsford magistrates were told on 6 December that the victim had been walking her dog in Trent on 28 May 2025.

Suddenly, an XL Bully appeared and attacked her dog. When she tried to lift it out of the way, the XL Bully pulled her pet out of its harness and continued attacking.

The victim sustained serious injuries to both hands as she tried to protect her pet.

Her dog had to be euthanised three days after the attack because of the severity of its injuries and she incurred more than £11,000 on vet and cremation costs.

Dodge, who claimed his dog had escaped accidentally, agreed to have it euthanised on the day of the attack.

Dodge was committed to Basildon Crown Court for sentencing during the week beginning 12 January 2026.

Section 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it illegal to have possession of or custody of certain specified types of dogs, such as the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, and Fila Brasileiro. 

It is an offence to own or be in possession of a dog of a 'type' known as the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasileiro, and Dogo Argentino. The XL Bully was also added to this list in 2023.