XL Bully Dog with Exemption Certificate Kills 9-Month-Old Baby in Wales

On Sunday, November 5th, 2025, a 9-month-old baby boy was killed in a dog attack in the small village of Rogiet, Monmouthshire, Wales. Emergency services were called to an address in Crossway at around 6 pm after a report of an attack by a family dog.

Tragically, the baby, who has not yet been formally named, was pronounced dead at the scene by Welsh ambulance service staff. Gwent police later revealed that the dog involved was a 6-year-old XL bully, a type that was added to the list of banned dogs in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act in late 2023 after being linked to several fatal attacks.

Surprisingly, the XL bully in the Rogiet incident had been registered with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and was issued a certificate of exemption in 2024, prior to the breed's ban. Authorities have stated that in such cases, only a dog legislation officer or a court-approved independent assessor can make an official determination of the dog's breed.

No arrests have been made at this time, and the investigation into the incident is still ongoing. The dog was sedated and removed from the property, then taken to a vet and euthanized.