American XL Bully dogs sold for £150 online sparking fears of ‘ticking time bomb’ as 5 mauled to death this year

DANGEROUS American XL Bully dogs are being sold for knock-off prices online - with fears of a "ticking time bomb" after five people were mauled to death this year.

Ian Price, 52, was yesterday mauled to death by two dogs while reportedly protecting his elderly mum - with Rishi Sunak today vowing XL Bully dog would be banned by the end of the year to put an end to violent attacks.

XL Bully dogs used to cost an average of £3,000 - with some muscle-bound animals being sold for over £5,000.

And The Sun Online can reveal that the "devil dogs" are being sold for knock off prices with as many as 281 of the American XL Bully dogs currently listed on Pets4Homes alone.

One dog was being offered for sale in Thetford, Norfolk, for just £150. 

The profile reads: "XL bully male needs rehoming. I took him on from a friend on a temporary basis but ended up being left here.

"Unfortunately he and my dogs do not get along, so he is in a kennel all day.

"He will need to be in an only dog home and no children. His previous owner did no training with him at all.

"He jumps up and gets very excited and puppy nips still, hence no children.

It continued: "He is very territorial over his belongings with other dogs, hence only a dog home.

"He will attack as he did to mine. He isn't like this with people, though.

"He needs someone who is strong, firm, and knows how to train a dog.

"He is a very loving dog and only wants love and cuddles.

"If I didn't have any other dogs here before him, I would keep him myself."

UP FOR SALE

Another owner in Forest Hill, London, who was selling an XL for £300 admitted: “She’s been brought up with teenagers so don’t know how she would be with young children. She loves company.”

A seller in Barnes in west London, was using the site to auction off ten unborn pups from a pregnant bitch for a starting price of £10.

The seller wrote: “Scanned for 10…Nala is a family dog, brought up around other dogs and children, she has an amazing temperament with no aggression. She is a big baby 😊 she is extremely loved and cared for.

“This will be her first and last litter!”

Another in Huddersfield was selling two pups that were nearly 4 months old which were listed for £10. The sale description said:

“They're lovely puppies. very clean. They've got both vaccines. They've been dewormed and fleas and ticks protected.

“They love to play with the kids. Open to offers”.

And other large dogs in need of proper care are being sold online.

Just one American Bully - a different variant to the XL - is being given away.

The owner - from Doddington, Lincolnshire - wrote: "Unfortunately I’m having to go back to work and she can’t be left.

"She needs someone who is going to be home all day and can take her on nice long walks off lead.

“She is wary of strangers, she barks at people coming into the house and takes time.

"A home with no children please. She’s free to the best home I can find for her."

Trainer Rob Metcalfe said: "The fact people are selling these dogs at a reduced price indicates many are worried they could soon be banned and want to cash in while they can.

"But this is only going to potentially make the situation worse because many of the dogs could end up in the hands of owners who simply don’t know how to control them. 

"I visit homes every week where owners are struggling to control their dogs.

"Without proper training and support these are ticking time bombs."

Half of XL Bully dogs are reportedly descended from a massive inbred pet dubbed Killer Kimbo - creating unstable, violent animals.