Mum takes dangerous dog campaign to Westminster

10 year old Jack Lis from Caerphilly died after being attacked by an XL Bully dog in 2021

XL Bully dog
Author: Lauren JonesPublished 28th Mar 2023
Last updated 28th Mar 2023

MPs are being urged to tighten dog breeding laws following the death of a 10-year-old boy from South Wales.

Jack Lis, from Caerphilly, suffered what at the time were described as "unsurvivable injuries" after he was attacked by a seven stone XL Bully dog.

He'd gone to play at a friends house after school when he was attacked in November 2021.

In June 2022, a man and woman were jailed in connection with the incident.

19 year old Brandon Hayden from Penyrheol, Caerphilly, was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting owning or being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog.

Amy Salter - who's 29 and from Trethomas, Caerphilly, was jailed for three years for the same offence.

His mum Emma Whitfield's in London today and will lobby MPs on breeding laws later.

Her campaign is being backed by local MP Wayne David.

He said: "Jack was a 10 year old boy he went out to play with a friend on afternoon, went to their house and got attacked by this vicious dog.

"It was shock to the whole community as well as to the family.

"There's a lot of concern in the community about how this came to happen.

"The two individuals responsible have been sentenced but nevertheless there's concern in the community and a feeling that this must never happen again - and they're absolutely right.

"We've seen a large increase in a dogs which can be described objectively as dangerous. People are breeding animals on the basis of trying to make them potentially as dangerous as possible and being trained to be dangerous"