XL bully dog tied up and set on fire as ban comes into place

Warning: This article contains content that some readers may find upsetting.

An American XL bully dog was set on fire just hours before New Year’s Eve as the ban on the breed came into force.

The dog was found in London alleyway with extensive burns to his front paws and a fractured skull.

His legs were also tied together and one of his ears had also been sliced off.

The RSPCA were called to the scene of the attack in Carshalton on Saturday, just a day before a new law was passed in England and Wales bringing the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

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 could not confirm if the animal had died after hitting a vehicle or weather it was a targeted killing.

‘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,’ she said.

‘It is deeply concerning that the dog was found with his legs tied 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.’

XL bullies gained significant attention in recent months amid a number of attacks on people, including children.

Environment secretary Steve Barclay said the government had met its pledge to take ‘quick and decisive action’ after a man in Staffordshire was mauled to death in September.

As part of the legislation breeding, selling, advertising, exchanging, abandoning, gifting, rehoming, 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.

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