Puppy mauled to death near home by XL Bully spurs calls for tougher dog laws

An 18-year-old dog owner in Ferryhill, County Durham, was left traumatised when her four-month-old cocker spaniel Maisie was mauled to death by two XL Bully dogs just yards from her home. Nikita Devon was walking Maisie at around midday on Sept. 3 when the two dogs escaped from a nearby property and attacked the puppy.

Maisie was ripped from Nikita's arms and shaken “as if she was a toy” by the dogs, witnesses said. The puppy died at the scene from a broken jaw and puncture wounds to the head, face, neck and body. Nikita, who was also bitten on her arms and legs, was five doors from home when the attack occurred. "I just saw this big dog running up the street with Maisie in her mouth as if she was a toy," Nikita said.

Maisie’s mother, Mellissa Ann Devon, 49, had just returned from work when the lunchtime assault happened. She told reporters Maisie, who the family had had since June 27, "made our lives complete" and that the tragedy has left them "utterly devastated." Mellissa added that Nikita usually walks with her two-year-old grandson, underscoring the potential risk faced by other pedestrians.

Shannon Leigh, Mellissa’s daughter-in-law and an eyewitness to part of the incident, has launched a petition calling for sweeping changes to dog regulation. The proposal seeks a licensing system for all dogs, regular property checks by councils to ensure registered dogs are housed securely, harsher penalties for owners who breach the law, and expanded trauma support for victims and families affected by canine aggression. "It’s not about breed hate. There are many breeds that can be dangerous. This is about the laws that are in place being stricter and people abiding by those rules," Leigh told ChronicleLive.

The petition comes as debate over XL Bully control grows, with a YouGov poll in July showing broad public support for tougher measures. The survey found that a majority of Britons favor stricter regulation of the XL Bully, with just five percent believing the breed should be allowed as a pet without a licence. Approximately 54 percent said dog licences should be mandatory, while 53 percent favored a ban on the XL Bully.

Context around the current legal framework notes that XL Bully was added to the Dangerous Dogs Act in 2023, making it subject to licensing requirements and exemptions in England and Wales. Some advocacy groups have called for the reintroduction of broader dog-licensing schemes that existed before 1988 in England, Scotland and Wales (with Northern Ireland still maintaining its system). The proposed reintroduction would come with a per-year fee of about £12.50.

Durham Constabulary have been contacted for comment.