Pictured: Man who was mauled by three canines outdoors house in Birmingham

Police were last night urgently hunting up to three bulldog-like dogs suspected of mauling their owner’s brother to death.

Officers were called to Hereford Close in Rubery, West Mids, in the early hours of Wednesday after receiving reports of dogs on the loose – and an awful smell coming from one garden.

A 33-year-old man, named locally as Niko, was found dead in the back garden of a property, where he had been looking after the dogs for his brother.

West Midlands Police initially said two dogs were seized at the scene and two further dogs may have also been at the address at the time and could now be at large in the area.

But in a later statement, Insp Leanne Chapman said there were ‘definitely’ two dogs yet to be found and ‘potentially’ three dogs.

‘They may be together or they may be separated,’ she said, adding that the man in the house had been found with ‘bite injuries’.

It was unclear which dog had caused the injuries, the force said, raising the possibility that the dog responsible had already been seized.

None of the dogs involved are believed to be a banned breed such as an XL Bully, but are thought to be similar American Bulldog types.

Neighbours said the dog owner lived in the property with three Cane Corso dogs, which resemble American Bulldogs.

Bloody marks were yesterday visible on a downstairs garden window of the address.

Neighbour Charlene Newman, 40, told the Mail she had called the police after smelling a foul stench coming from the garden.

She said: ‘It was a really bad smell. Like something rotting and it was coming from the bottom of the hedge in the back garden. I didn’t see a body but then the police came and put up a tent while they recovered it.

‘Some round here know the guy who lives in the house, he’s lived here for about four years.

‘But I can’t believe this was anything to do with his dogs because they were always out with him in the garden and never seemed vicious. We were told it was his brother Niko who often comes to visit him that died.

‘There have never been any dog attacks here before and as far as I know, no-one had complained about them.’

Another resident, who gave his name only as Shane, said no-one had heard any shouting or barking at the house.

‘We just don’t know what happened but you can see bloody scratches on the window frame at the back of the house,’ he said.

‘Maybe the guy who died was attacked by dogs in the house and tried to get out of the window and then died in the garden without anyone realising he was there.

‘The police took two of the dogs away and we have heard that two other dogs are still running loose on the estate somewhere.

‘There are all sorts if rumours going round about what’s happened but no-one seems to have seen or heard anything.’

Drone units and specialist dog handlers have been deployed in Rubery to search for the dogs, with the public urged to ring 999 if they are spotted.

A post-mortem examination is being carried out on the victim to establish his cause of death.

By yesterday evening, two candles and a roll-up cigarette had been left as a tribute at the spot where the man’s body was found.

A picture of one of the two dogs believed to be on the loose was issued by the force, with the other said to be a similar dog that was black.

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.’