Yahoo News What we know about XL bully dog found dead with burned legs and ear cut off
The RSPCA has appealed for information after an XL bully dog was found dead in Carshalton, south London, with its ear cut off and badly burned paws.
WARNING: Distressing content below
An XL bully has been found dead in an alleyway with a fractured skull and burn marks.
The male dog had its legs bound together, had one of its ears cut off and had been set on fire leaving its legs badly burned, the RSPCA said. It was discovered by a member of the public in Waltham Road, Carshalton, south London, on Saturday, according to the charity.
It was found before new laws came into force on Sunday making it illegal to breed, sell, or abandon XL bullies. Owners have to apply for an exemption by February 1 to keep their dogs.
What we know
The RSPCA said a member of the public made the "shocking discovery" on 30 December, the day before the start of a ban on the XL bully breed.
New laws came into force on New Year's Eve making it illegal to breed, sell or abandon XL bullies, with owners given until 1 February to apply for an exemption to keep their dogs.
Harriet Daliday, RSPCA inspector, said: “It is deeply concerning that the dog was found with his legs tied together and had been set on fire.
Watch: XL bully rules come into force amid mounting animal welfare fears as ban looms
“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.”
Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA’s appeals line, quoting reference 01202686. The RSPCA opposes the ban, introduced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in response to a spate of attacks by XL bullies, and previously warned it could lead to an influx of the dogs being taken to animal shelters or abandoned.
What we don't know
It is unclear if the XL bully was tortured before it died with no timeline yet established on when exactly its injuries were inflicted. The RSPCA also said it did not know if the dog's injuries, including being set on fire, were the cause of death.
Daliday 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."
There were also reports that the dog had escaped from a garden after winds blew down a fence, but this has not yet been established.
XL bully dogs must now be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. Breeding, selling or abandoning the dogs has also become illegal, with owners being urged to apply for a certificate of exemption for current pets before the 31 January deadline.
From 1 February, owning an XL bully dog in England and Wales without a certificate - placing them on the Index of Exempted Dogs - will be a criminal offence.
