Over 20 dogs, believed to be XL Bullies, have been rescued from squalid conditions in a breeding facility in Sheffield in a joint operation involving the city council.
A site visit by South East Sheffield Neighbourhood Policing Team and Sheffield City Council’s Animal Health found the dogs, including puppies, living in appalling conditions on an allotment.
Many of the dogs required veterinary attention and six had to be put to sleep immediately. The remaining 16 are in police kennels.
Chief Inspector Emma Cheney commented: ‘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.
‘Following the XL Bully ban put in place earlier this year, it is now against the law to breed the dogs.
‘Separate to the investigation around these dogs being XL Bullys, animal cruelty and suffering will not be tolerated within South Yorkshire, and we will continue to work with partners to ensure those responsible are put before the courts.’
