Prime example of “it’s the owner, not the breed” this week after a man was jailed for administering a ‘punishment beating’ to a York vet for failing to save his XL Bully’s life.

Arbaz Hamza Hamid, 24, punched Tim Stead in the face at the end of several minutes’ of aggression by a group of people towards the vet.

Hamid had bought the dog from America at a cost of £4,000 – £5,000, and claimed it was solely a “family pet” owned jointly by Hamid and two men who had confronted the vet on January 16 last year.

According to the prosecution however, the dog cost £20,000 to bring over from America, which suggests Hamid was intending to use her for breeding.

Judge Sean Morris agreed this was most likely, telling Hamid: “This was the loss of a big investment, that is what this was all about. I don’t accept this was an impulsive act by you. This was the coup de grace of an increasingly hostile situation.”

Hamid and four others turned up to the vet’s surgery off Poppleton Road, York, to confront him after the dog died. Victoria Barker, prosecuting, said Hamid punched Mr Stead in the face, driving his glasses into his face so hard they left an imprint in the skin and making three cuts that had to be sutured.

The dog had been ill and was receiving two-hourly injections, with the joint ówners giving it round the clock care. One morning, a man and woman rushed the dog to the vet, who told them it needed surgery and the chances of its surviving were one in five. The two agreed to the surgery.

The vet carried out the operation and later that day rung the couple to tell them the dog had died. The same day, five people arrived in two cars and confronted the vet. At one point, one of the men – not Hamid – punched the wall. All five left immediately after Hamid punched the vet in the face.

In the end, Hamid pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for seven months.

Obviously it’s very sad that the XL Bully died, but at least it’s no longer under the control of a guy  who spent £20,000 on a ‘family dog’ and then proceeded to attack the vet who tried to keep it alive. Hopefully wasting £20,000 and 7 months of his life will deter Hamid from attempting to relaunch his failed XL Bully-breeding business once he’s out.

Then again, he could always try his hand with the new dog breed set to ‘take over’ from the XL Bully in 2024.