The owner of a small chihuahua is seeking justice after she said her “beautiful dog died for no reason” in an attack by two American XL bully dogs at a west London park.
Yoda was reportedly killed by the dogs near the entrance to Crane Park at Twickenham on Friday morning, shocking onlookers who witnessed the attack.
The dog’s “heartbroken” owner, Gina Frost, wrote on social media that her “darling little chihuahua Yoda” was “mauled and killed” by two XL bully dogs.
“Unfortunately our darling dog was killed in a horrific manner,” she said, according to Teddington Nub News.
“Keep your children and dogs away if you see these dogs. And please report any experiences with the dogs to the police.”
Ms Frost said children would play with her dog Yoda on the green after school.
She wants to see justice following the death of her chihuahua.
“Knowing how horrifically my beautiful dog died for no reason is eating at me day and night,” she wrote on Facebook.
“Everyone in the local area is furious, outraged and disgusted. We want justice.”
The owner of one American XL bully involved has received a number of threats following the attack, Teddington Nub News reports.
The dog was not being walked by its owners at the time of the chihuahua’s death, according to reports.
Metropolitan Police told the Standard: “Officers are investigating after a dog was attacked and killed in Twickenham.
“The incident happened at about 10.15am on Friday June 23 on Mill Road, Twickenham, next to the entrance of Crane Park.
“A Chihuahua was attacked by a American XL bully type dog, resulting in the Chihuahua’s death from its injuries.
“Officers from the West Twickenham Safer Neighbourhoods Team investigate.
“Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 2572/23JUN
“To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.”
Earlier this month, senior Tory MP Sir John Hayes called for the Government to ban American XL bully dogs in the UK, following a spate of attacks involving the breed in recent years.
Sir John, the MP for South Holland and the Deepings, told the Commons: “Just last month, a 37-year-old man was killed in Greater Manchester.
“A 17-month-old, Bella-Rae Birch, killed last year. Just before that, a 10-year-old, Jack Lis.
“They were all killed by this so-called Bully Dog, the American XL Bully Dog.
“We need an urgent statement from the Government, not to debate this matter but simply to confirm that this bad breed, bred to kill, should be banned.”
In March a cavapoo dog was savaged by an XL bully dog in Richmond Park, leaving the small pup needing to have its eye surgically removed.
A Croydon woman may have been mauled to death by her own American XL bully dog as she walked a pack of dogs in Surrey in 2021.
Jack Lis, aged 10, from south Wales, died in November 2021 after being mauled by an XL bully.
In May his mother Emma Whitfield called for the breed to be banned and for tougher sentences to be imposed on their owners.
A further 15 people have lost their lives in dog attacks in the 18 months since Jack’s death, while there were nearly 22,000 cases of injuries from out of control dogs in 2022.
There are currently four banned breeds of dog in the UK, the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.
The American XL bully is closely related to the banned Pit Bull Terrier breed, but is not subject to any legal restrictions itself.
Males can weigh between 70 and 130 pounds (30-58kg), according to dog behaviour expert Stan Rawlinson. They have “enormous strength”, he added.
In response to Sir John’s comments, a Defra spokesperson said earlier this month: “We take the issue of dangerous dogs and fatal dog attacks seriously and are making sure enforcement measures are fully utilised.
“These measures range from Community Protection Notices that can be served for low-level anti-social behaviour to offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act – where serious offences can see people put in prison for up to 14 years, disqualified from ownership or their dog euthanised if they allow it to become dangerously out of control.”
