Explosion of XL Bullys in UK is traced to ‘Killer Kimbo’ – but breeder says they only become killers when given steroids
DOZENS of XL Bullys in the UK are ancestors of one dog – known as “Killer Kimbo”.
But Kimbo’s breeder Gustavo Castro, from Huntington Park in Los Angeles, has denied it’s his fault the dogs are becoming deadly.
Instead, he accused owners of injecting their pets with steroids to make them stronger and more dangerous.
And he claimed puppies take most of their genes from their mothers, so Kimbo cannot be to blame.
The deadline for XL Bully owners to apply for certificates of exemption if they wish to keep their pets passed today.
From February 1, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without a certificate.
INBRED DOGS
Kimbo was the product of severe inbreeding, as he was born to two dogs from the same parents.
And the ongoing extremely narrow gene pool can make dogs unstable and cause genetic diseases, experts have warned.
Dogs related to “Killer Kimbo” are definitely responsible for at least 10 violent incidents worldwide, but dozens more have proven impossible to trace, according to researchers from campaign group BullyWatch.
Since March 2020, eight Brits have been killed by XL Bullys.
Last October Ian “Scouse” Langley, 54, was killed protecting his puppy when an XL Bully pounced on him outside a home in Sunderland.
Meanwhile, Mr Castro has boasted Kimbo, who died ten years ago, has up to 600 offspring across the world.
But he refused to accept any blame for the killings.
He told The Sun: “Kimbo’s offspring are all over the world now and it’s getting really big to have a big dog.
“Some people when they get my dogs they start injecting them with steroids and other stuff that they’re not supposed to, to get them big.
“All that stuff has side effects. You’re not going to get a normal dog, the dog’s going to be different.
“My dogs are naturally big. Puppies take more from the mother’s genes anyway. If the mothers are aggressive it isn’t necessarily Kimbo’s fault.
“I haven’t had any problems with Kimbo’s offspring either.
“I’ve currently got a Kimbo grandson and great-grandson, so it’s direct, and my dogs are perfectly fine.
“These descendants have other blood that we don’t even know about.”
DOG DEATHS LAST YEAR
There were eight tragic dog deaths in 2023, including:
Natasha Johnston, 28 – January 12 – dog walker died after frenzied attack while walking eight dogs of various breeds in Caterham, Surrey.
Alice Stones, 4 – January 31 – Alice was attacked by an American bulldog the family got from a rescue centre in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
Wayne Stevens, 51 – April 22 – Wayne’s brother Gary was arrested and charged over having an out of control dog in Derby.
Jonathan Hogg, 37 – May 18 – Attacked in Westleigh Lane, Leigh while looking after an American XL Bully for a friend.
Woman in her 70s, who was never publicly identified, died on Kathleen Avenue, Bedworth on June 2.
Marie Stevens, 40 – September 3 – Attacked by two Rottweilers at her home in Brighton-le-Sands on August 18.
Ian Price, 52 – September 14 – Two American XL Bullys attacked Mr Price as he visited his mother on Main Street, Sonnall.
Ian Langley, 54 – October 3 – American XL Bully attacked Mr Langley as he tried to protect his Patterdale terrier pup.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously announced a ban on the breed following the death of married father Ian Price, 52, who was savaged by two XL Bully dogs in Stonnall, Staffs, in September.
Mr Castro said he is opposed to a ban and claimed Kimbo was a “gentle giant” who was regularly “hugged and kissed” by kids.
He added: “Kimbo grew up with my six daughters and they would kiss and hug him.
“They had a really good bond with him. He was a gentle giant and he didn’t bite anyone.”
Kimbo bled into all those bloodlines
Gloria Zsigmond
But BullyWatch scientist Gloria Zsigmond said she is concerned by the large number related to Kimbo as she claims he had a history of violence in his bloodline.
She said: “A lot of the time, the Bully breeders are trying to hide how inbred the dogs are.
“Kimbo bled into all those bloodlines because he was early on and he was dominant in breeding.”
Keven Jones, a 65-year-old former lorry driver from Wrexham, was killed by a dog linked to Kimbo, according to The Telegraph.
Mr Jones died of blood loss his son’s XL Bully, named Cookie Doe, bit him in May 2022 – the dog was related to Kimbo on both sides of its family.
The Covid lockdowns saw an explosion in the number of new dog owners and in pets being bought from unscrupulous breeders.
And incidents have risen by 34 per cent in England and Wales over the past five years, figures have revealed.
Between 2001 and 2021, there was an average of 3.3 dog-related deaths each year.
In 2022, that shot up to ten, while 2023 saw eight tragic deaths.
In January last year, four-year-old Alice Stones died after being attacked by a dog in her back garden in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
And in February, Natasha Johnston, 28, was mauled to death by the dogs she was walking in Surrey.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
IT is against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, including in private homes.
This applies to all dogs, not just banned breeds.
Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it injures someone or makes someone worried that it might injure them.
A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if it attacks an animal.
Penalties for breaking the law include an unlimited fine and a prison sentence of six months to 14 years.
You dog may be destroyed and you may also be banned from owning a dog in the future.
Four breeds of dog are banned in the UK.
These are pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro.
The police or local council can confiscate a dog of these breeds even if it is not acting dangerously and there has been no complaint.
From February 1, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without a certificate.
