Usutu virus detected in wild bird outside Greater London

cost to dog welfare and human mental distress.Between 2007 and 2018 I assessed 198 dogs all seized by the police as pitbull terrier types, 26 of which (13 per cent) had bitten people: eight as a result of ill-advised human intervention in a dog-on-dog conflict, five becoming embroiled in human conflict with the police, three in groups fighting in the street, and two 'domestics'.The remaining eight reflected a similar variety of human rather than canine failing, including an owner drunk in charge of his dog, a dog left unattended outside a shop and a 'victim' kicking out at an approaching off-lead dog in panic.I assessed only four as truly dangerous, in that there was a likelihood of further bites, even in experienced hands, and they would cause serious damage.For these dogs I recommended euthanasia.Yet all these 198 dogs may have been killed, many of which had loving and responsible homes, had it not been for expert behavioural and anatomical assessment and defence.If the XL bully is deemed a type rather than a breed, as it is not recognised by the UK Kennel Club, and the 'guilty unless proven innocent' reverse burden of proof remains the same, then it is inevitable that precisely the same will happen to the XL bully as to the pitbull type, and that huge numbers of large shortcoated muscular crossbreeds will die completely unnecessarily if this ban comes into effect.And who will be obliged to carry out this mass killing?Veterinary surgeons, some of whom by all accounts are already on the verge of emotional bankruptcy caused by the demands and stresses of current veterinary practice.I therefore urge all vets to come out with one voice to roundly condemn this 'knee jerk' ban and call instead for routine and thorough investigation of all dog bite incidents, including the genetics of all sizes of dogs involved, and for the results of which to be used for evidence-based dog control and preventive education.