An ‘out of control’ XL Bully attacked a Corgi in a park, leaving it with life-threatening injuries.

Dog owner Hannah Smith, 33, from Sinfin, Derby, reported how her two dogs were lunged at in an ‘unprovoked’ attack while out walking at a local park with her mother.

Along with their walker, Monty and Darwin were attacked by an ‘out of control’ XL Bully dog at Sinfin Moor Park, within the vicinity of a school where students were leaving for home. 

Darwin was rushed to the vet after the vicious ’15-minute’ attack.

Ms Smith relayed her mother’s account of the shocking incident, saying: ‘It was a totally unprovoked attack.

Hannah Smith’s two Corgis were savagely attacked by an XL Bully while out walking with her mother

Her two dogs, Monty and Darwin, were lunged at in an unprovoked attack. Darwin suffered life-threatening injuries and is being cared for by vets

‘The XL had spotted my mum and lunged from its walker, slipping the unsuitable lead before heading straight to Darwin and attacking him for 15 minutes.

‘The dog walker just stood there screaming, they didn’t know what to do and most definitely could not control the dog.’

Members of the public rushed to the incident to help save Darwin’s life, with one even giving up their child’s pram for the Corgi so he could be put into a car and rushed to the vet.

She said: ‘Darwin sustained horrific injuries and spent the night in intensive care. They didn’t know if he was going to make it or not. By some miracle, he has and is currently classed as being stable. His brother Monty is very upset after seeing this.’

Derbyshire police said in a statement issued following the attack: ‘The force was called to reports of a dog having been attacked by another dog on Sinfin Moor Park. The attacked dog, a Corgi, suffered life-threatening injuries and is being cared for by vets.

‘The dog that was said to have attacked the Corgi, reported to have been an XL Bully type, was seized by officers and is now in a specialist kennel facility. The owner of the dog was spoken to at the scene and enquiries are ongoing into the incident. No arrests have been made.’

Hannah said that despite the traumatic events, involving a breed which is due to be banned on February 1, 2024, she does not believe that the XL Bully is the only dog at fault, saying ‘it could have been any breed of dog’.

The attacks come days before a Government ban on breeding, selling or owning of unlicensed XL bullies, with six Britons having been killed by the animals in just one year. 

The attacks come days before a Government ban on breeding, selling or owning of unlicensed XL bullies, with six Britons having been killed by the animals in just one year (file photo)

The mother added: ‘The biggest thing that I would love to come out of this horrible event is more awareness on how you should control your dog. 

‘The person walking the dog was in no way prepared to handle it, she had a flimsy lead and stayed on the sidelines as people rushed to help.

‘This incident was 100 per cent preventable if the owner was equipped and ready. It’s all good saying that the dogs will need a muzzle but if owners are not ready to take care of the animals and pay the money for training and equipment then it will continue to happen.

‘The only advice that is available when it comes to breaking up a dog fight is ‘never break up a dog fight’, which I think is silly. 

‘These animals are our babies and we will always try to step in, but no one knows what to do in that situation.’

It comes as a pair of stray XL Bullies were seized by police on Thursday after being spotted running loose. 

The dogs reportedly ran riot on a street in Sheffield, attacking another dog and approaching a child’s pram, without any sign of an owner. 

The attacks come days before a Government ban on breeding, selling or owning of unlicensed XL bullies, with six Britons having been killed by the animals in just one year. 

Ms Smith is now trying to contact the owner after being faced with a vet bill amounting to ‘between £10,000 and £20,000’. 

She also commended the police for their help with the incident, thanking them for taking the case ‘very seriously’.