Emergency services were called to a house in Rogiet, Monmouthshire, on the evening of 2 November. A nine-month-old baby boy, who had just come into this world and hadn’t even been named yet, was killed by an XL Bully dog. This incident was so shocking that everyone who heard about the news was left in disbelief, including the police officers who responded. The dog was a six-year-old family pet, and the owners had official permission to keep it.
Assistant Chief Constable of Gwent Police, Vicki Townsend, warned against online speculation, saying: “We understand that there is a significant amount of interest and concern about this incident, and we have seen the community rally together in this difficult time.”
A Dog Legislation Officer in Gwent Police confirmed that the dog – which was a family pet – was a six-year-old XL Bully and had been registered with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
A certificate of exemption, which allowed owners of XL Bullys to apply to keep their dogs before a ban came into force, had been issued in 2024.
No one can truly feel the pain that the parents of the baby are going through. It is heartbreaking beyond words. The police officers are also working hard on the investigation. For now, the dog was sedated, removed from the property, and later put down by a vet.
Catherine Fookes, MP for Monmouthshire, said: “I know that the close-knit Rogiet community, and all of us across Monmouthshire, will pull together at this most difficult time.”
Meanwhile, the county councillor for the Rogiet ward, Peter Strong, described the incident as “unbelievably awful.”
He said: “I think the community is very much in mourning; there’s a profound sense of shock. People are really stunned, I think.”
“It is our responsibility as a police service to ensure that the death of a baby boy is fully investigated, and so we again urge people to be responsible and to consider the impact that speculation, rumours, and commentary can have on the family and the integrity of our investigation,” said the police.
Two people from Rogiet have now been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury resulting in death, Gwent Police said.
Both individuals were also arrested on suspicion of child neglect. They were later released on police bail as inquiries continue.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwent Police and quote log reference 2500349915.
This kind of news is truly heartbreaking. Such incidents should never happen to anyone. The real culprits should receive appropriate punishment for their negligence. As pet owners, we have a responsibility to ensure that our pets never harm anyone.
It has been a few days since the incident, and as of now, no conclusion has been reached. The police are still conducting their investigation to determine the final outcome.
From this tragic event, we must learn that as pet owners—especially of breeds that could be potentially dangerous—we should understand our pets’ behavior. If we notice any negative changes, we must not ignore them. As pet owners, we carry an important responsibility for the safety of others and our pets themselves.
