These horrific pictures show the cruel way in which an XL Bully dog met its death. The RSPCA had its legs bound and was set alight hours before a ban on the breed came into force.
Disturbing photos show horrific burns to his front paws, a fractured skull and inspectors confirmed one of the animal’s ears had been sliced.
Now RSPCA officers are appealing for witnesses as they investigate the appalling case after the Bully was found in a London alleyway on Saturday, December 30.
RSPCA Inspector Harriet Daliday said she couldn’t confirm if the animal had died after hitting a vehicle or was dispatched in a targeted killing.
She said: “At this stage, we don’t know for certain if the dog had sustained the head injury after being hit by a car, or whether this was done deliberately.
“It is deeply concerning that the dog was found with his legs tied together and had been set on fire. The dog also had one of his ears cut off.
“We are appealing for anyone who has any information about this incident to contact us in complete confidence.”
A member of the public found the dead male animal in Carshalton, south London, and reported it to the RSCPA.
Initial enquiries revealed that the dog had escaped from a garden after high wind blew down a fence during the weekend’s storms.
A new law was passed in England and Wales yesterday (Dec 31) bringing the XL Bully breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The legislation makes breeding, selling, advertising, exchanging, gifting, rehoming, abandoning or allowing XL Bully dogs to stray illegal.
From January 31, it will be an offence to own an XL Bully unless it is registered on the Index of Exempted dogs and is compliant with the requirements.
Dogs that are more than one year old after this date must be neutered by June 30 while younger dogs must receive the same treatment by December 31.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced the new legislation after a spate of vicious attacks on people across the country including the death of Ian Price, 52, from Staffordshire.
He said the breed was a “danger to our communities” and said he “shared the nation’s horror” at the savage maulings by the breed.
