‘The dog really started barking and growling a lot and then the kids started screaming’News
Filipa Gaspar and Shannon Brown Reporter
19:05, 11 Apr 2025
Police, paramedics and an air ambulance were called to the scene in Sutton Avenue(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach PLC)
Residents living in a quiet Bristol street have described their shock after a mum was attacked by an XL Bully dog.
The woman, aged in her 40s, was bitten by the dog at a home in Sutton Avenue, Brislington on Thursday, April 11.
She remains in hospital in a stable condition after sustaining potentially life-changing injuries in the attack.
One neighbour, who didn’t wish to be named, described the scene as “hectic,” adding that it isn’t “something that usually happens” in the area.
“I didn’t see it, I didn’t know until all the police cars were out here,” they said.
“There were police cars, a car ambulance and an ambulance that takes you to hospital, forensic vans, a dog van. There must have been about six vehicles and then the forensic van came after. There was a policewoman outside my gate and I think that’s when they were taking the dogs out.
”I think they put them down because they were holding black body bags and put them in the back of the van.”
The neighbour continued: “She’s got children. She’s ever so nice. I never saw her dogs, I didn’t even know she had them. Quite a few have dogs so when they’re barking you never know which house it’s coming from.
“It was a bit hectic around here and not something that usually happens.”
Another local said they didn’t know of the attack until another neighbour phoned them. “A lady came to see if we were alright and she lives up the road and couldn’t even get her car into our road, there were that many police cars and ambulances and what-have-you,” they said.
The attack happened at the Brislington home at around 4.15pm on Thursday. Police officers with riot shields were called to the scene while an air ambulance landed at nearby St Anne’s Park. Today (Friday, April 11) Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the dog had been put down by vets.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “A woman remains in a stable condition in hospital after being bitten by a dog at an address in Sutton Avenue, Bristol. Her injuries have been described as potentially life-changing.
“Enquiries were carried out at the scene following the incident at about 4.15pm yesterday (Thursday 10 April). The scene was stood down last night. The dog was sedated by specialist dog handlers and safely removed from the property.
“It was taken to a veterinary practice and has since been put down. We believe the dog involved was a XL Bully that had been registered. The local neighbourhood team will be carrying out extra high-visibility patrols in the area over the coming days and will be on hand to talk to anyone who has concerns.”
One neighbour described hearing screaming children before “everything went quiet”. They said: “I don’t know exactly what dog it was or what happened but I was out in the garden yesterday afternoon and I heard a commotion.
“A dog was barking and at one stage the dog sounded really nasty, vicious. I’ve heard him bark before but this time there was a lot of screaming going on from the children and then everything went quiet.”
They described police turning up with “a couple of dogs”. “One dog is big and looks like a bull terrier or a pitbull. I don’t see him walked around very often and he’s never come at me.
“They’ve been there a long time. We get on very well, she’s very nice,” they added.
“I take my dog out twice a day but I’ve never seen them out much – it might be different times they go out to me. We don’t chat a lot but when we do meet we do have a chat.
“This must have all kicked off around 3.30pm and there were four police cars and a big police van and a couple of unmarked cars. I was out in the garden working and every time I go out there the dog would bark, which is only natural I suppose.
“But this particular time at one stage, the dog really started barking and growling a lot and then the kids started screaming. The adult was saying: ‘Shut up’ or trying to control the dog, I think.
“When the commotion started, I thought that sounded a little bit different than it usually is with the dog, with the growls and the barks. It was a hot day yesterday; animals can turn funny in the heat. There were a few police officers standing on their doorstep.”
Another neighbour said she had never seen the dogs being walked before.