A Wallington resident is urging the Government to change the law after her pet was "mauled to death" in Beddington Park.

Brody, a five-year-old black and white jack-a-poo, was "thrown in the air and shaken like a ragdoll” during the attack on May 23.

Now Gaye Fisher, of Hawthorn Road, is planning to lobby the Government into reclassifying companion dogs as sentient beings so similar attacks are a criminal offence.

Recalling the incident, she said: “I wasn't there but my husband was just walking the dog and, out of the undergrowth, a very large dog - we don't know what breed - just shot out and grabbed hold of our dog, threw him in the air, and just shook him like a ragdoll.

“He managed to get our dog off the other dog but it was too late, so my husband then had to pick up a dying dog and drive him to the vet, which was about half an hour in total.

“I got to the vet at the same time and there was nothing they could do. My husband was covered in blood and the car was covered in blood. The dog died at the vets.”

While the incident was reported to police, and later referred to the Met’s Status Dogs Unit, there have been few further updates.

The aim is to gather enough support before launching the petition as it’s feared an insufficient amount garnered within six months might see it get scrapped.

Mrs Fisher, who has lived in Wallington for around 30 years, added: “Our dog suffered an agonising death which was witnessed by my husband, who is still traumatised, and since then I've come to realise it was not an isolated event.

“Overall, I'd like to see all dog legislation overhauled in terms of everything. But that's too big of an ask, really, because that means a whole raft of legislation and I think it's too much to ask for.

“But I think if we could just get the reclassification of a companion dog, that requires just a small amendment to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. I think that's more achievable, really.”

According to the RSPCA, it is an offence if an owner’s dog attacks an assistance dog but not other animals – including pet dogs.

Meanwhile, it is illegal for owners to “let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere” – in public, private, or even in their home – according to the law.

Owners can get up to three years in prison or fined – or both – if their dog injures an assistance dog.

Mrs Fisher has launched a Facebook group – named “Justice for Brody & Companion Dogs” – as a precursor to the petition.