A Brazilian dog owner has been accused of animal cruelty after photos emerged online of his bull terrier covered in tattoos.

Tattoo artist Emerson Damasceno claimed he inked his pet because he believed they would protect the dog from cancer.

The tattoos which can be seen on the dog’s ears, eyes, and nose include an ‘LA’ logo, stars, diamond, knuckle dusters and an anchor.

Brazilian lawyer Fernanda Soares was the one who drew attention to the images and, as predicted, social media blew up when the tattooed pup surfaced online.

Claims that tattooing your pets prevented cancerous growths was quickly disputed by prominent veterinarians and it may cause health issues to the animal.

Damasceno later deleted his profile from Facebook and other social media accounts. It is unclear if police are investigating.