An XL Bully can be seen furiously growling at police from a wrecked garden covered in rubbish in a terrifying video released by officers to show what they have to deal with on a daily basis.
The clip shows the anxious dog pacing around outside and barking with a frantically wagging tail and cropped ears. Weighing in at over 60kg, the terrified animal is successfully sedated with a dart by police before it has a chance to showcase its notorious power and aggression. One brave officer coolly adds ‘no drama’ as the situation is taken under control.
It’s just one of several videos police have published to highlight the way they deal with dangerous dogs amid a wave of attacks. Another clip showed a giant canine called Hector, a Great Dane-Mastiff cross who remains still as police use poles to prevent a potential attack. One relieved officer could be heard telling the dog he was a ‘good boy’ and they ‘don’t want to hurt’ him.
An event at a top canine training centre at Balsall Common, Solihull, saw West Midlands Police show behind the scenes of their work dealing with reports of out-of-control or dangerous dogs. They aimed to highlight those who ‘put their lives at risk every day’ to keep the public safe, reports Birmingham Live.
The renowned development hub has been running for three decades. In the last 12 months, its dogs have been involved in 545 arrests and attended 6,400 incidents. A team of four dangerous dog handlers has also rushed to more than 800 incidents involving out-of-control canines. Some 100 dogs have been seized - with 50 still in kennels.
Insp Leanne Chapman, who runs the Dog Unit, said: "Our breed scheme and dog training centre is one of the best in the country. We are constantly striving to improve our service. So much goes into our dogs and the unit itself.
“Our police officers, staff and partners are passionate about dogs. They often give up their spare time to help train and care for our puppies and dogs. It’s hard work but as you can imagine, very rewarding."
