ABANDONED DOGS FOUND DEHYDRATED AND MALNOURISHED
Four dogs have been found "emaciated and in distress" after being abandoned at a property in Sheffield.
The dogs, al believed to be bull breeds, were without access to food or water in outdoor kennels at an address on Wolfe Road in the city.
The animals had been left in their own faeces and urine and had lesions on their bodies, South Yorkshire Police said. All four are now being cared for at a police kennel facility.
The force said the discovery coincided with an increase in calls from owners of XL bullys who said they would miss the 30 June deadline to neuter their dogs.
The four dogs found in Wolfe Road are all believed to have previously had multiple litters of puppies, according to officers.
Police have asked for anyone with information about who is responsible for abandoning the dogs to come forward.
Ch Insp Emma Cheney, who is leading the work on dangerous dogs in South Yorkshire, said: "Prior to the legislation changing for XL Bullies, bull breed dogs were desirable, and the likelihood is that these dogs would have made their owners a lot of money by being excessively bred but now they have been left to die.
"Animal cruelty will not be tolerated in South Yorkshire, and we will do all we can to find those responsible and put them before the courts."
It comes ahead of the deadline for XL bully owners to neuter their dogs this Sunday.
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), dogs that were 12 months or older on the 31 January 2024 must be neutered by the 30 June 2024.
South Yorkshire Police said it was seeing a rise in calls from owners seeking advice as they would miss the deadline for arranging the procedure.
The force said it had no power to extend the government-enforced deadline and anyone concerned about missing it should contract the DEFRA directly.
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