'Police took my XL Bully - four months later he was skinny and covered in sores'

The owner of a seized says he burst into tears after police allegedly returned it to him skinny and covered in sores.

Rhys Buckley-Mellor says his , Titan, was taken by officers from his home in Wigan at the end of May while he was at work. Titan was returned to his owner last Friday - but Rhys, a bricklayer, claims his dog is now drastically underweight, with his paws and body covered in sores. He also says the dog's personality has changed, and Titan is now timid.

Rhys, 24, is now demanding an explanation from (GMP) and has made a formal complaint to the force about Titan's condition upon his return home. GMP said the claims about TItan's condition are 'concerning' and the force has encouraged Rhys to make a formal complaint that will be investigated.

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He said: "My dog is an and I didn't manage to get him exempt in time and someone reported us to the police. At the time that he was taken by the police he was a big dog, always lively and affectionate. Now he won't even let me stroke him. I would say he is less than half of his normal weight - his ribs are very visible. He is covered in sores and has been given antibiotics. Due to the sores on his paws he is struggling to walk. He has been neutered but is in a lot of pain and cannot sit down. He spends most of the time lying down on the floor. The police took him off us on my birthday, May 29. I was at work at the time and only found out later."

Titan, who will turn three in December, was the subject of a court hearing at Tameside Magistrates. Rhys added: "I went to court and it was said he had been examined by a dog liaison officer from the police and had a perfect temperament. There are standard rules we must follow as he is an XL Bully - he must be muzzled, neutered, and constantly on a lead.

"I was in tears when I saw him after he was returned. He was in such a bad state. Where he is normally white on his markings he is yellow because I believe he has been laying in his own urine. He has sores on his paws, the backs of his legs, around his ears, and his shoulder. Police will not tell me where he has been kept."

Pictures taken of Titan shortly before he was seized show that he had a glossy, healthy-looking coat and no sores. Rhys said a "third party who works for the police - but is not an officer - dropped him off", and "tried to suggest he had always had sores". But he said that "when he left us he was in perfect condition", and had only a "scar on his head".

Describing how his dog's character now seems different, he said: "His personality has changed, it is like he doesn't want to bother with me. He was happy to see me again but as soon as he got over that he went in on himself. He is withdrawn."

Rhys added: "He must have been underfed because he was starving when he came back and ate a lot. He is a shadow of what he was - like traumatised." Rhys' sister, Rebecca Pendlebury, said: "I was mortified when I saw Titan when he was brought back. We have had to spend £200 at the vets for antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medicine for him. His tail has a bad sore that keeps bleeding and we have been warned he may have to lose part of it. Yet Rhys was told at court he will have to pay £400 towards the cost of Titan's board while with the police.

"I think he has developed pressure sores from sleeping on concrete. When they took him I asked if they could take his blanket and soft toys but the police said no due to cross contamination."

Owners of registered XL Bully dogs that were aged 12 months or older on January 31, 2024, must now have their dogs neutered in order to keep their Certificate of Exemption valid. If owners failed to submit a Confirmation of Neutering form to Defra by July 26, the dog will no longer have exemption status.

New rules also mean that all existing XL Bully dogs must be registered, neutered and kept muzzled and on a lead in public. The government said it enforced these rules to enhance public safety while reducing the overall XL Bully population overtime.

A Greater Police spokesperson said: “We take animal welfare very seriously. The seizure of any animal is only done when absolute necessary and when the interest of public safety. We use local authority approved kennels where there is veterinary care that be utilised should they be required. We will be following up this matter with them. The concerns that have been raised are concerning, and we encourage Titan’s owner to make a formal complaint to us, which will be investigated by ourselves and partners.”