XL Bully: Dog found dead had been set on fire - RSPCA investigates

The horrific death of an XL bully dog that was set on fire just hours before a ban on the breed came into force is being investigated.

Shocking photos reveal how the muscular brown dog suffered extensive burns to his front paws and a fractured skull before his body was discovered in an alleyway on Saturday (Dec 30). The pooch was also found with his legs tied together and, disturbingly, one of his ears had also been sliced off.

A member of the public found the dead male animal in Carshalton, south London, and then reported it to the RSPCA. Initial enquiries revealed that the dog had escaped from a garden after high wind blew down a fence during the weekend’s storms.

But 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.”

The death comes as 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.