An XL bully has been found burnt and mutilated in a south London alleyway – just hours before a government ban on the breed began.
The dog had been set on fire and had one of its ears cut off, said the RSPCA.
It was found dead with its legs tied together, and it also had a fractured skull.
Harrowing photos provided by the animal welfare charity showed the male dog with its two front feet blackened badly burnt. It appeared to be lying in front of a row of garages.
A member of the public made the discovery in residential Waltham Road, Carshalton, on Saturday (December 30).
“Initial enquiries made by the inspector found that the dog had escaped from his garden after wind blew down a fence during the weekend’s storms,” said an RSPCA spokesperson.
RSPCA inspector Harriet Daliday, who is investigating, 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.”
New rules governing the ownership of XL bully dogs came into force on Sunday (December 31), the day after the dog was found dead.
The new rules make it illegal to “breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow XL bully dogs to stray” in England and Wales, as of December 31. The dogs must also now be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.