Girl's heartbreaking message to dog owners after savage XL bully attack

Good Morning Britain have praised a 7-year-old girl after she sent a message to XL Bully owners following a savage attack.

7-year-old Lydia and father Matt joined Adil Rayand Kate Garraway on the GMB sofa on Wednesday morning, recalling the harrowing attack.

The ITV breakfast show showed some distressing images of red scratches on the young girls arm. Her father, explained how he had to hold the XL Bully down, even holding it by the neck.

"We were just walking down the street, we hadn't done anything to interact with dogs and it just came into our lives at the moment. It wondered up and attacked Lydia. I had to get it off, it bit her again," Matt said.

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"It's quite fuzzy but you do remember certain details and I remember trying to grab the neck originally and there was no collar. Eventually it was a case of trying to block it and I was lying on it because it only wanted Lydia."

The father emotionally continued: "There were those moments where I don't know what was going on, she's screaming, she's bleeding but I have to block this dog and I don't know what's going on with her and that was very, very scary. It's a very weird situation to be in - we feel lucky because she's only got scars on her arm."

Towards the end of the interview, Kate asked: "Lydia, what would you say to dog owners? Have you got anything you want to say to them?"

"I'm ok with dogs just I wouldn't like them being really bouncy around me," Lydia responded.

"Yes, keep them a bit calmer around you and keep control of them, that makes sense Lydia," Kate clarified - as viewers praised the young girl online.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: "Hit the nail on the head. Not everyone appreciates a 'friendly' dog. I'll put a tarantula on you and say the same.. Same with barking. The owners just don't hear it."

Hundreds of dogs have been euthanised under the XL Bullies ban, but almost two years on, attacks are still rife with another 12 people killed by dogs to date.

The ban, which began at the end of 2023 following a Mirror campaign, forced XL bully owners to register their dog for an exemption certificate and to muzzle them in public places. The new law also made it illegal to breed, sell, advertise or give away an XL bully.

Now the RSPCA is calling on ministers to conduct a 'full and in-depth' review of the Dangerous Dogs Act, which was first passed 34 years ago this August. Under the Act, a dog can be seized if it is a prohibited type - namely an XL bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino or Fila Brasileiro.

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