A horrified community is demanding justice after two yobs locked a dog inside a cage, doused it in petrol and let it burn to death.

The sickening act of cruelty was carried out in a bin shelter at the bottom of Shalden House, in Tunworth Crescent, Roehampton, last Friday night.

We have decided to print this shocking image in the hope it will prompt whoever knows who committed this grotesque crime to come forward.

Your Local Guardian: Dog cruelty burnt Wandsworth July 2010

Furious residents on the estate immediately set up a group on social networking site Facebook called “name and shame the sick ******** that burnt that poor dog alive!!”.

The dog, a rottweiler believed to be called Kairn, was heard yelping and barking between 10.30pm and 11pm. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said two boys aged between 14 and 15 “were seen to throw petrol over the dog and run away”.

Neighbours tried in vain to help it by throwing buckets of water over the subsequent blaze. It was eventually extinguished by five firefighters from Wandsworth Fire Brigade, who were called shortly before 11pm.

Bernie Bright, a 42-year-old mum who lives in the block, said just thinking about the heartless attack made her cry.

She said: “We, as a community, are so angry, shocked and saddened that someone has done this to a poor dog and would like it known so hopefully witnesses come forward.”

Posting on the Facebook group, which already has close to 1,000 members, Michelle Louise Casteel said: “As a dog owner and lover words actually fail me. What possesses someone to get up one day and decide to do that – it’s vile, disgusting and horrendous.”

Josie Williams-Eustace wrote: “If they can do such a thing to a poor dog locked in a cage then what next?”

Ms Bright said her shock was made worse because its body was not removed until Sunday. She claimed a dog control officer arrived on Saturday, discovered it had been microchipped and traced him to an owner in Essex.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “The dog was collected by the RSPCA officer who covers the Roehampton patch at the first available opportunity. The dog was part of a crime scene and if they deemed it necessary, as the dog had died, the police could have removed the body themselves at an earlier stage.”

A spokesman for Wandsworth Council said officers were aware of the incident and ready to assist Wandsworth CID.

The Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said both yobs were wearing woolly hats but no more information was known.

Anyone with information should call Wandsworth police on 0300 123 1212.

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