XL bully killed nine-month-old baby boy in Roggiet home

The dog that killed a nine-month-old baby boy in south-east Wales was an XL bully, police have confirmed.

Police officers and paramedics were called to an address in Crossway, Rogiet, near Caldicot, Monmouthshire, on Sunday evening, and the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gwent Police said the dog involved was a six-year-old XL bully that was registered with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and that a certificate of exemption was issued in 2024.

Following the incident, the dog was sedated, removed from the house and taken to a vet where it was put down. No arrests have been made.

“While the dog in this case was registered as an XL bully, it was done so proactively before the ban came into effect,” said Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Townsend, referring to a ban on the breed introduced last year.

ACC Townsend said that in preparation of a law banning XL bully dogs, “when requesting a certificate of exemption, owners were not required to formally identify the dog’s breed”.

Since 1 February 2024, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate.

“In cases where a suspected banned breed is involved only a DLO [Dog Legislation Officer] or a court-approved independent assessor can make an official determination,” she said.

She added that police were fully investigating what happened.

“We again urge people to be responsible, and to consider the impact that speculation, rumour, and commentary can have on the family and on the integrity of our investigation,” she said.

People in the village said they saw police cars and ambulances on the street late Sunday evening, with the “quiet community” finding it difficult to come to terms with the “horrendous” events.

Rogiet county councillor Peter Strong described the village as being in mourning, but vowed residents would “stand together”.

“It’s a deep and profound sense of shock that such a thing should happen in amidst our quiet community.”

Mr Strong appealed to local people to “stay calm [and] to give the family the space they need to grieve in peace”.