Police hunting ‘up to three’ dogs after man found dead outside home

Police have used drones and specialist officers to hunt for up to three dogs believed to have been involved in an attack that killed a man in the West Midlands.

The 33-year-old man, who was looking after his brother’s dogs, was found dead in a back garden in Rubery.

Officers believe the man was attacked by at least one dog which contributed to his death.

Two dogs were seized at the scene, but police are now looking for two others – and “possibly” a third – which they say could have also been at the property in Hereford Close.

The seized dogs are both believed to be American bulldogs, but the breeds of the other dogs are unknown.

Inspector Leanne Chapman, from the West Midlands Police dog unit, said: “They may be together or they may be separated.

“Please don’t try to approach them, please don’t try to take hold of them.

“We believe that they were involved in an incident in a house where somebody has died.

“I don’t know what took place in that house but he has got dog bite injuries.

“I don’t know which dogs are responsible for that, whether it’s the two we’ve already got in custody or whether it’s the two that are outstanding.

“One of the dogs that we’ve got has a head injury. It could be that the other dogs were also injured as a result.”

Officers were called in the early hours of Wednesday to reports that a number of dogs were loose, and found the man dead.

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out to establish his cause of death.

A photo of one of the two animals known to be missing was released. The other is similar but black.

American bulldogs, a muscular breed, can grow to weigh 7 stone or more.

Police carried out house-to-house enquiries, reviewed CCTV and have used specialist dog officers and a drone unit to search for the dogs.

Supt Sally Simpson, of Birmingham Police, said: “This is a really tragic incident, and the family of the man are being supported by officers.

“The investigation into his death is continuing, and our priority right now is finding the other dogs that we believe may have been involved.”

Insp Chapman said: “We have officers liaising with vets and the local authority, and are using our drone capability to scour the wider area.

“We really need to hear from anyone who has seen these dogs and it’s vital that if you see them, you don’t approach them but call 999 immediately.”

On Tuesday, a man was killed as his own XL Bully dog turned on him at home in Lancashire and attacked. Police shot the animal dead after David Daintree, 53, was killed.

XL Bullies were banned late last year after a spate of attacks in which the animals maimed and killed several people, including an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham who was seriously injured .