An ‘aggressive’ XL Bully remains on the loose in a British city after evading armed police marksmen.
Officers from South Yorkshire Police attempted to shoot a dog on Thursday evening in response to its aggressive behavior during an investigation into reported gunfire in the Hillfoot area of Sheffield.
A spokesperson for the force confirmed that the dog was still at large on Sunday evening.
According to the police, analysis of blood found at the scene indicated that the dog was already injured before it escaped. Two other dogs were seized and placed in police kennels.
In an effort to locate the XL Bully breed of dog, authorities have reached out to veterinary clinics throughout Sheffield. They have warned that this dog has shown signs of aggression and poses a potential threat to public safety.
A police statement said: ‘Shooting a dog is never a decision taken lightly by our armed officers.
‘During what was already a challenging incident, and the risk posed, the decision was made to shoot the dog to progress finding a suspect and weapon and protecting our communities.
‘We now believe the dog to have suffered injuries and are urging the public to be vigilant for a loose XL Bully, but also one that may have succumb to its injuries or been taken somewhere for treatment.
During searches of the properties of those arrested, police seized two dogs, including an XL Bully, and shot at a third, also an XL Bully (stock image)
South Yorkshire Police were called to the Walkley area of Sheffield at 10.04pm on Thursday after neighbours reported gunshots outside a house on Daniel Hill Street (pictured)
Three people have been arrested over the two incidents and the Xl Bully remains on the loose
‘We have contacted all veterinary practices as part of our enquiries but continue to ask anyone who has received a dog into their care, they believe could be this dog to come forward.
‘If you see the dog, we continue to urge you not to approach it, as we believe it has the ability to show aggression and cause harm.’
Police were called to the house in Hillfoot at 10.04pm on March 3 after neighbours reported gunshots outside a house in the area.
Shots were reportedly fired from outside a property and the windows of a nearby vehicle smashed.
Armed police attended the scene and upon entry to a property, officers reported an XL Bully became ‘aggressive’. A shot was fired towards the dog and it fled the scene.
Several hours later, a road traffic collision took place in the Rivelin area.
Officers were called at 3.11am on Friday to an incident involving a motorbike and a silver VW Golf, where shots were again fired at a man.
A statement from South Yorkshire Police said the force is treating the incidents as ‘linked’.
A graphic showing the key physical features of the XL Bully breed as defined by government legislation
In an unrelated case, an inquest on Thursday detailed how Nicholas Glass, 33, was found dead in the back garden of his sibling’s house in Rednal, near Birmingham, in August last year after being mauled by up to four dogs, including two XL bullies
Both Daniel Hill Street and Rivelin Road in the city were cordoned off as investigations took place.
A man, aged 37, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a woman, 39, has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm.
The rider of the motorcycle, a 36-year-old man, was also arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
During searches of the properties of those arrested, police seized two dogs, including an XL Bully, and shot at the third, also an XL Bully. The first two dogs remain in police kennels, but the third dog remains on the loose.
A statement from South Yorkshire Police on Saturday warned local residents to be ‘vigilant’ and stressed that officers were doing everything they could to track down the dog.
‘We’re continuing to ask our communities to be vigilant for a loose XL Bully in Sheffield and urge anyone with information of its whereabouts to get in touch,’ the statement read.
‘We understand that our communities will be worried, and we assure you that we are continuing to do all we can to find the dog.’
The statement added: ‘As our enquiries have progressed, forensic analysis of blood at the scene allows us to confirm we do believe the dog to be injured.
As of February 1, 2024, it became a criminal offense to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless you have a valid exemption certificate (stock image)
John McColl, 84, was walking home when he was pounced upon by an XL Bully on February 24 – he died from his injuries the following month
‘If you do see the dog, please call 999 immediately, if you have information about its whereabouts, please get in touch online, via live chat or by calling 101 quoting incident number 948 of 3 April 2025.’
Police are also investigating the possibility that someone is sheltering the dog to keep it hidden from officers.
Chief Superintendent for Sheffield Jamie Henderson said in a statement on Friday: ‘I would like to assure you that we are doing all we can to locate the dog or find those who may have housed it to evade police contact.’
Since February 1 2024, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.
A great-grandfather died at the end of March after being mauled by an XL Bully during a horror attack over a month previously.
John McColl, 84, was walking home when he was pounced upon by the animal on February 24.
The dog dragged the pensioner into a garden and savaged him, leaving Mr McColl critically injured.
Armed police were later forced to fire 19 shots to kill the beast – believed to have been an ‘unregistered XL Bully’ – and another suspected XL Bully at the property.
