Chihuahua killed by XL bulldog while they were both out with the SAME professional dog walker

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Horrified animal lovers have started a petition calling for owners of controversial dog breeds, such as the XL Bully, to be punished if their pets harm or kill another animal – following the tragic death of a Chihuahua in South West London last week.

The owner of the small dog named Yoda revealed on social media how the family’s pet was mauled to death by two American XL bulldogs while out for a walk in Crane Park in Twickenham.

The XL bullies were being walked by a professional dog walker at the time, a relative of their owners has confirmed.

Chihuahuas generally weigh about 6 pounds, and Yoda died in his owner’s arms at a nearby vet after the savage attack.

A dog expert told MailOnline earlier this month that the XL bully breed is “very, very reactive” and warned that the number of deaths from such dogs could rise sharply in the coming months and years.

Yoda’s owner, from South West London, wrote that her dog was “mauled and killed this morning by two XL bully dogs in Crane Park’ adding ‘keep your children and dogs away if you see these dogs’ and said the family was left behind ‘heartbroken’ by the death of their dog.

The family of Yoda the chihuahua, who was run over by two American XL bulldogs while walking in Crane Park, Twickenham, say they are heartbroken at the loss of their family pet

A person on social media, who claimed to witness the attack, said: “I was there when it happened and I don’t think I’ll ever get over watching a chihuahua get eaten by an XL bully.

“The Chihuahua didn’t ask for that, he didn’t bark. It didn’t do anything, it just got too close to an obviously dangerous dog in a public park.”

American XL bullies are mixed breed bulldogs, typically American pit bull terriers crossed with American, English and Old English bulldogs.

News of Yoda’s death emerged on the social media app NextDoor hundreds of responses, many saying the affected dogs should be put down.

Others have since launched the petition, which now has nearly 9,000 signatures, calling for punishment for dog owners who attack and kill other animals.

The petition reads: “We want people to be held accountable for dogs attacking other pets. At this point, a dog attacking another pet is not a criminal offense unless it is considered uncontrollable.”

A photo shared on NextDoor reportedly shows one of the XL bulldogs that killed the chihuahua

The two animals allegedly responsible for the murder (pictured) were being walked by a professional dog walker at the time of the attack, eyewitnesses say

Relatives have defended the dog’s owners on the app, saying they were not out with the dogs at the time and have been the target of abuse since the attack.

The family member said they “did not defend the dogs or the breed” and that the owners themselves contacted police after learning about the attack.

They also added that after the attack, the owner was exposed to “ongoing threats and even individuals showing up at their homes.”

XL bullies have increasingly become status symbols loved by athletes, rappers and pet owners across the country.

Stan Rawlinson, a dog behaviorist with over 20 years of experience, was called as an expert witness for the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 and specializes in dog aggression.

He told MailOnline that the breed poses a risk to both humans and animals.

After Yoda’s death, a petition has been launched calling on owners of dogs who attack and harm other animals to face the law

Following warnings from PETA members and veterinarians across the country, Mr. Rawlinson explained: ‘We’ve averaged three dog attack deaths per year for the last 25 years.

“We had ten of those last year with a maximum of seven related to the XL bully. This is only going to get worse.

“They can kill you in a minute and the worst part is no one knows how many there are in the UK. There are at least thousands of them, but we just don’t know for sure.

“Amateurs tinker with DNA, give these dogs stronger muscles and try to create monsters.

Several celebrities own American bullies, including rapper Drake pictured with Winter (right)

And they succeeded. It’s going to get significantly worse.

The number of human deaths from dog attacks has more than doubled in the past two years, from four in 2021 to a record ten in 2022, and Mr Rawlinson says the increase in bullies is a clear factor in this.

Two out of every four fatal dog attacks in the UK in 2021 involved a bully XL, with the number rising to at least six in 10 last year.

There have been at least two fatal bullying attacks so far in 2023 – with fears the breed could also have been involved in three other dog murders.

Online advertisements selling the breed and the rising number of animals seized by police suggest that the number of dogs in the country could rise rapidly.

What is an American Bully XL and what makes it so dangerous?

American bullies are a relatively new breed, having emerged in the 1980s.

They are mixed breed bulldogs, typically American pit bull terriers that cross American, English, and Old English bulldogs.

Despite their relative popularity in the UK, they are not officially registered as a breed by the UK Kennel Club, making it difficult to know exactly how many there are in the country.

They are seen as ‘status symbols’ and are often bought for their intimidating appearance.

While the bully XL is the most common, the dogs can also be bred with Mastiffs and other larger dogs to make them larger, XXL or even XXXL.

Controversial and illegal practices such as ear cropping are also performed to make them appear intimidating.

The males can weigh between 70 and 130 kilograms of muscle bone and have enormous strength.

The ‘status symbol’ nature of the dogs has made them something of a weapon, bought by people who want a criminal and scary looking dog.

Despite their lack of official certification, there is also a thriving market with puppies regularly being sold on Facebook and through places like Gumtree for anywhere from £500 to £3,000.

However, experts go to great lengths to warn of their potentially dangerous nature, especially if their aggression is encouraged.

They descend from bullfighting dogs and if not trained properly their aggression can surface.

This can pose a real threat to humans, particularly children, and has been seen in several shocking recent deaths involving the dog.

Among those killed by bullies were 10-year-old Jack Lis in November 2021 and 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch in March 2022.

Mr Rawlinson added: ‘I wouldn’t go near it. I’ve been around all kinds of dogs, even the most dangerous ones. But these XL Bully dogs are very reactive. They are like the ancient Roman war dogs that attacked Britain and helped forge an empire across the continent.

“More people will die if we don’t do something about it.

‘It’s not an official breed, it’s impossible to track them down. The American Pitbull has been banned since 1991, but they are still coming in. That dog is the starting point for the XL Bully and more are coming in every day.’