A BULLY dog was found beheaded with its spine sawn in half near a playground after a brutal killing.
The grim discovery was made by a dog walker at around 9am on Tuesday at Lordship Recreation Ground in North London.
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The RSPCA said the bull breed dog had been cut up into several pieces, beheaded, burnt, and its spine had been sawn in half.
Animal rescue officer Lee Ricketts is investigating for the animal welfare charity.
He said the RSPCA was also called about a beating incident in the same area six days earlier, although it is unclear it the two incidents are related.
Ricketts said: “This was a really distressing discovery.
“The dog’s body had been cut up into several pieces, all their limbs had been removed, their head cut off and their spine appeared to have been sawn in half.
“It is believed someone had attempted to burn the remains as parts of the dog had been burned along with the grass around it and there was a smell of burnt fuel.
Animal welfare law in the UK
Prior to the Animal Welfare Act the authorities could only act after an animal had suffered.
The 2006 Act gives public authorities and agencies the power to act before an animal suffers.
Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act places a duty of care on people to ensure they take reasonable steps in all the circumstances to meet the welfare needs of their animals to the extent required by good practice.
What does this mean for those responsible for animals?
need for a suitable environment
need for a suitable diet
need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals
need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
“The body was found close to the Walpole Road South Gate and could have been carried with difficulty through there or potentially driven through the Downhills Park Road Gate likely through the night of 22 April, or early morning of Tuesday 23rd of April.”
He added: “I examined the body but at this moment there is no obvious indication of how the dog died.
“It was very clear that it had taken a considerable amount of time and effort to cut up and transport the body to the park.
“Last week we were called about a beating incident of a large tan bull breed dog which happened between two benches at the Lordship Lane Entrance of the park at around 16:20 on 17 April.
“We are not sure at this stage if they are related. We would like to appeal for information regarding either of these incidents.”
Anyone with information about the dog or the beating incident should contact the RSPCA’s appeals line on 0300 123 8018.
Or follow the link here.
