Hampstead Heath

A BANNED XL Bully dog was abandoned on Hampstead Heath.

The dog, described as “light brown, medium size and muscly” by an onlooker, was tied to the fence by Parliament Hill tennis courts on the morning of May 26.

Police told the New Journal that a park ranger phoned the Met police at 8.30am to report that a stray dog had been left there and confirmed that it was an XL bully.

The breed was banned in December 2023, and it is also illegal to abandon or allow an XL Bully dog to stray.

Someone who saw the dog being captured said she found watching them catch the dog using poles and string “very upsetting” and she was crying.

She said: “I don’t like animals being left, and she is surely going to be killed just the thought of a life going to end and we just witnessed it. I love animals. I have three dogs and three cats. The dog was resisting to get into the car. It was quite upsetting.”

It’s not clear what will happen to the pet now.

The council is responsible for picking up stray dogs, however it told the New Journal that it would have been handled by a warden working on behalf of the City of London.

The City of London did not respond to a request for comment.