Millions of families have pets they adore that believe would never, ever hurt them. In fact, we’ve seen plenty of animals jump between their owner and danger to protect them. But they are still animals that lack the communication abilities and emotional control that humans have. Sometimes, this can cause an animal to act out of character and attack those they know well.
Jarrod Bluck and his 9-month-old son, Jonte William Bluck, were together at home in Rogiet, South Wales, on November 2, 2025. Tragically, the family’s XL Bully, the largest type of American Bulldog, aka pit bull, reportedly became spooked by fireworks and attacked the infant. He died before arriving at Grange University Hospital for help because of a fatal wound to his head.
According to The Sun, the court wants to investigate Jonte’s death further.
“An inquest has been opened as there is reason to suspect that he died as a result of a dog bite,” area coroner Rose Farmer said.
Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Townsend said the child’s death is under investigation, as is the dog’s history. Although the XL Bully breed is now banned across the UK, the owner had an exemption issued in 2024 for the now 6-year-old dog, the BBC reported.
The BBC also reported that Gwent Police arrested a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s on suspicion of child neglect. They’ve since been released on bail.
“I understand that there is a lot of interest about this in our communities, but this is now a live criminal investigation,” Townsend said. “It is vital that people think about how their online commentary, in particular social media comments or posts, could impact the ongoing investigation and the criminal justice process.”
Jonte’s death saddened the community. Per the BBC, Rogiet county councillor Peter Strong said the village is in mourning over the shocking death.
“It’s a deep and profound sense of shock that such a thing should happen in amidst our quiet community,” Strong said. He added not to bother Jonte’s family, asking the public to “give the family the space they need to grieve in peace.”
As a parent, we can’t imagine losing a child to an animal attack. That innocent baby didn’t stand a chance. We get that the dog might have been frightened, but if it’s a breed known for aggression, maybe it shouldn’t be around kids. Such a tough call.
