Fiona's Bond with Duchess and the Impact of the XL Bully Ban
Fiona Rees-Davies keeps the ashes and paw print of her Staffordshire bull terrier, Duchess, on her mantlepiece, reflecting on their bittersweet memories together.
Duchess was abandoned and survived only due to the kindness of a neighbour who fed her through a letterbox. When rescued, she was underweight and had lost much of her fur due to a severe flea infestation.
Eventually, Duchess found a loving "forever home" with Fiona in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. However, their time together was cut short by a cancerous tumour.
Such cases are not isolated; cruelty to dogs in Wales has increased by 19% according to the latest RSPCA figures for 2024 and 2025, and by 55% over the past five years. Staffordshire bull terriers and bulldog-type dogs account for nearly a quarter (23%) of deliberate cruelty cases.
Some experts suggest that the XL bully ban, along with external and "alpha-style dog training," may be contributing to the mistreatment of related breeds.
The ban was implemented after the UK government reported that the breed was "disproportionately involved" in fatal incidents recorded since 2021.
Fiona, a teaching assistant, believes that a stigma now surrounds other "muscular" dogs, including Staffordshire bull terriers.
"Often when we were walking, she was wagging her tail, happy to see other dogs, but people would tend to cross the road," Fiona said.
"Duchess would turn back and look at me as if to say, 'what have I done wrong?' because she just wanted to say hello.
"People would think, 'oh, she's a nasty dog'.
"And of course she wasn't - and they [Staffordshire bull terriers] aren't."
Fiona's joyful moments with Duchess are tinged with sadness. She describes Duchess' life before rescue as one devoid of love or contact, simply discarded.
Duchess won over Fiona's family with her affectionate nature and was described as "just a bundle of fun - she loved everybody." Soon after, however, she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour.
After six months, the discomfort became unbearable for the eight-year-old dog, leading Fiona to make the difficult decision to have Duchess euthanized.
"I think about her every day," Fiona said.
"I just miss her so much - she deserved her happily ever after."
Fiona acknowledges that Duchess' presence sometimes unsettled other dog owners but insists that the breed's muscular appearance and media portrayals have created a damaging stigma.
"We've got the Dangerous Dogs Act, external - it should be a 'dangerous human act'," she added.
"Just because a dog is big and muscular doesn't mean it's nasty."
What is the XL Bully Ban?
Strict regulations regarding ownership of XL bully dogs were introduced across the UK in March 2025. These dogs are characterized as large with muscular bodies and blocky heads, suggesting great strength and power.
In 2021, 10-year-old Jack Lis from Caerphilly was fatally mauled by an XL bully named "Beast," sustaining unsurvivable injuries to his head and neck. Another incident involved an 11-year-old girl attacked by an XL bully crossed with a Staffordshire bull terrier that broke free from its owner in Birmingham.
Fiona was drawn to Duchess after seeing her "smiling" in a field of buttercups at a dog shelter.
David Brice, who runs a Staffordshire bull terrier training company, explained the challenges faced by the breed.
"I know from previous customers, [that] lots of dogs have been used for dog fighting because of the monetary value that they can hold," David said.
"Also, being the stature of dog that they are, you will often find they are dealt with a lot more robustly and with rough discipline, rather than other dogs, to get that aggressive nature out of them - that is where physical force will be used.
"There is a massive misconception with this breed that they are tough, muscular, hearty dogs."
Despite this, David described Staffordshire bull terriers as "the most loving breed you could probably have." He emphasized that they are often people-oriented and eager to please, negating the need for excessive force or harsh training methods.
He stressed the importance of positive training, noting that the breed's excitable temperament can be difficult to manage without proper knowledge, and their strong bite may attract unsuitable owners.
RSPCA rescue officer Ethan Griffin noted a significant rise in deliberate cruelty cases, particularly involving dogs.
"We're definitely getting an increase of deliberate cruelty across the board, but the main spike at the moment is dogs," Ethan said.
Since 2021, the animal welfare charity has recorded 4,746 incidents of intentional harm in Wales, with 3,560 involving dogs.
Vanessa Waddon from Hope Rescue in Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, reported a 30% increase in Staffordshire bull terriers being brought to her shelter. She also highlighted a 4,500% rise in larger dogs associated with the XL bully, such as Cane Corso and Presa Canario breeds.
"When you've got the government telling you that dangerous dogs are only a certain type of breed, it does worry the public," Vanessa said.
"What we should be doing is educating people on responsible ownership of all dogs, all breeds."
She urged prospective pet owners to check a dog's health carefully, including skin and eyes, and to meet the dog's parents before purchase.
A spokesperson for the UK government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated:
"Any form of animal abuse is completely unacceptable and is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.
We continue to work with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to encourage responsible dog ownership across all breeds and ensure the current dog control rules are sufficient to protect communities."
The Welsh government expressed support for the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, recognizing its role in public protection.
A spokesperson added:
"Any dog, regardless of breed, type or size, can show aggression and cause harm.
We encourage all owners to ensure their dogs are properly trained, controlled and safe around others.
Animal cruelty is unacceptable and should be reported to the relevant enforcement authority or the police."
