UK community shaken after four-month-old puppy mauled by XL Bully near home prompts calls for tougher dog laws

An afternoon attack in Ferryhill, County Durham, left a four-month-old cocker spaniel named Maisie dead after two XL Bully dogs mauled her as they escaped from a nearby property. The puppy’s owner, 18-year-old Nikita Devon, was walking Maisie when the animals grabbed the small dog and shook her “as if she was a toy,” according to initial accounts. Maisie died at the scene, and vets later confirmed the puppy sustained severe injuries, including a broken jaw and puncture wounds to the head, face, neck and body.

Police said the dogs had escaped from a nearby property at the time of the lunchtime attack on September 3. Nikita, who lives a short distance from the scene, and her mother, Mellissa Ann Devon, 49, had just returned home when she took Maisie out for a midday walk to allow her to stretch her legs.

Shouting and screams drew Mellissa out of the house, and she found a terrifying scene in the street as two XL Bully dogs carried Maisie away. The owner’s proximity to home underscores how quickly the attack unfolded in a residential area, with Nikita reportedly just five doors from her own door when the dogs struck.

Maisie’s owner, Mellissa, said the family had only had Maisie since June 27 and that she had brought joy to their lives. “We have only had Maisie since June 27, and she made our lives complete. We have been left utterly devastated,” she said. Nikita told ChronicleLive that she had been planning a routine walk with Maisie when the dogs appeared, and she described a moment of panic as the animals closed in on her puppy. “I just saw this big dog running up the street with Maisie in her mouth as if she was a toy,” she said.

The attack has prompted calls from relatives and witnesses for stronger dog controls. Shannon Leigh, Mellissa’s daughter-in-law, who witnessed the incident from a distance, said she has been left with flashbacks and has launched a campaign calling for a licensing system for all dogs, routine property checks by councils to ensure secure housing for registered dogs, and harsher penalties for owners who breach the law. “It’s not about breed hate. There’s so many breeds that can be dangerous. This is about the laws that are in place being stricter and people abiding by those rules,” Leigh said.

Leigh’s petition seeks a licensing framework for all dogs, regular property checks by local authorities to ensure that registered dogs are kept securely, and tougher penalties for owners who fail to meet legal requirements. It also advocates for better victim support, including trauma counselling and access to specialist referrals for those affected by canine aggression. The drive reflects a broader concern among residents that current safeguards are insufficient to prevent dangerous encounters in everyday settings.

Beyond the local case, the incident feeds into a national conversation about XL Bully controls. A YouGov poll conducted in July found broad support for tighter regulation of the breed: just five percent of Britons said XL Bully dogs should be allowed as pets without a licence, while 54 percent supported mandatory dog licences and 53 percent supported banning the breed altogether. The poll results underscore public appetite for more stringent oversight as lawmakers weigh whether to expand or tighten existing laws governing dangerous dogs.

Context about the legal framework is relevant here. In 2023, the XL Bully became the first breed to be added to the Dangerous Dogs Act in England and Wales since the act’s 1991 inception, meaning owners must obtain a Certificate of Exemption to keep such dogs. Critics say the measure does not go far enough to address risks, while supporters argue it is a necessary step to curb dangerous dog incidents. Pre-1988 licensing existed for dog ownership in the UK, and some reference points note that Northern Ireland has maintained a separate licensing regime that persists to date, with differing costs and requirements. Advocates say a nationwide approach—potentially including universal licensing and stricter enforcement—could help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Durham Constabulary has been contacted for comment on the incident and on any ongoing investigations. The case highlights the ongoing tension between public safety and animal ownership rights, as communities seek practical solutions that balance responsible pet ownership with the realities of dog behavior and temperament.