Jack Lis: Police apologise as dog reclassified as American bully not American bulldog

Police have confirmed the dog that killed 10-year-old Jack Lis in Caerphilly last month was not an American bulldog, as previously stated.

Jack Lis died after police were called to an address in Penyrhoel in Caerphilly on Monday, November 8, following reports of a dog attack.

Gwent Police has now confirmed the dog’s breed was an American bully or XL bully, following an investigation assisted by a dog legislation expert.

Despite the late change, like American bulldogs, bullies or XL bullies are not currently banned in the UK.

Dog breeds currently banned in the UK:

• Pitbull terrier

• Japanese tosa

• Dogo Argentino

• Fila Brasileiro

Gwent Police has apologised for the error, and the force's chief superintendent Mark Hobrough said: “The work to identify the breed of dog involved in this attack has concluded.

“In the view of the dog legislation officer’s report, the breed of dog has been classified as an American or XL bully.

“Neither of these breeds feature on the list of banned dogs and is therefore not illegal to own in this country”

A 28-year-old woman from the Caerphilly area was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, before later being released on bail.

Two men also attended police inquiries voluntarily and both were later released.