An eight-month-old baby girl is fighting for her life after being savagely mauled by an XL Bully-type dog at a home on Siskin Close in Kent.
The puppy, named Hunter, reportedly grabbed Arabella Williams by the head and threw her around “like a rag doll,” according to her family.
The shocking attack occurred just after 2:30pm on Wednesday. Emergency services rushed Arabella to a London hospital where she remains in critical condition in intensive care.
Her aunt, Stephanie Coombs, described the terrifying scene: “The dog suddenly switched, grabbing her by the top of her head like a claw machine and swinging her around like a rag doll. Her head was badly injured. It was touch and go last night. We are praying she’s going to be okay.”
Arabella’s mother broke her finger trying to pry the dog’s jaws open to save her daughter.
The XL Bully, Hunter, was seized by Kent Police and later destroyed. The family revealed that Hunter had previously passed all legal behavioural checks with no signs of aggression before the attack.
Stephanie Coombs criticised the authorities, saying: “Why did the police give the dog back after tests? How many families have to go through these tragedies? XL Bullies cannot be trusted—they should all be banned.”
Kent Police arrested an 18-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman on suspicion of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog. Both remain in custody as investigations continue.
The normally peaceful Hawkinge community is reeling from the incident. A local builder said: “It’s usually so quiet here. Seeing the emergency services and hearing about the baby is absolutely horrific.”
Calls for a full ban on XL Bullies have intensified following the attack. The dog was reportedly kept to support Arabella’s older brother, who has autism, after advice that a pet might help his condition.
A Kent Police spokesperson said officers “will remain in the area to carry out enquiries and provide reassurance to the local community.”
More updates on Arabella’s condition and the ongoing investigation are expected soon.
Originally published by UKNIP.
