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Police Seize 22 Illegal XL-Bully Dogs Living in Appalling Conditions in Sheffield

In a shocking discovery, police have seized 22 illegal XL-Bully dogs living in “appalling” conditions in a breeding farm in Sheffield. The dogs, including some puppies, were found in small, inadequate, and unhygienic conditions in the eastern area of the city.

South Yorkshire Police reported that several dogs were in urgent need of help, with six of them having to be put to sleep immediately to end their suffering. Chief Inspector Emma Cheney, leading the work on dangerous dogs in South Yorkshire, expressed concern over the conditions the dogs were living in.

“We do not know how long some of the dogs have been living in these conditions, with female dogs having litters of puppies while in their own suffering state,” Chief Inspector Cheney said. She emphasized that animal cruelty and suffering will not be tolerated in South Yorkshire and that those responsible will be brought to justice.

The dogs were discovered on Infield Lane by the South East Sheffield Neighbourhood Policing Team and colleagues from Sheffield City Council’s Animal Health. Dog Legislation Officers and the RSPCA quickly attended to support their colleagues and seized the 22 dogs from the property.

Chief Inspector Cheney urged the community to report any suspicious behavior or illegal breeding of banned breeds. A suspect has been identified, and investigations are ongoing. Since February, it has been a criminal offense to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate, following a series of attacks on people.

The remaining 16 dogs are currently in police kennels while the investigation continues. Anyone with information is urged to contact the authorities, quoting incident number 315 of 2 May 2024.