Angeline Mahal, a 50-year-old mother-of-two, was tragically mauled to death by her two registered XL Bullies at her home in Hornchurch, East London. The attack occurred yesterday afternoon, and armed police equipped with riot shields were called to manage the situation. Her two sons discovered her unresponsive on the hallway floor, attempted CPR, and called an ambulance, but it is feared that Angeline had already been deceased for several hours by then.
The police seized the two dogs, which were contained in a room, and a blue forensic tent was erected outside the residence on the small residential street. A relative, who chose to remain anonymous, shared, “Angeline had always kept dogs and had been doing so for years. Her recent pets were XL Bullies, which she had since they were puppies. They were properly registered and kept in cages.”
Further details are still unclear, but it is believed that only one of the dogs attacked her. “Her two sons found her in the hallway and tried to give her CPR, but it was too late. The police and paramedics arrived shortly after,” the relative added.
Following the incident at 1:10 pm, Angeline was pronounced dead at the scene. A police cordon remained around the property as investigations continued.
Angeline’s tragic death has shocked her family and community. “You read about dogs killing their owners, but you never expect it to happen to your own family,” the relative remarked. “I had discussed with Angeline the fatal XL Bully attack in Jaywick where a grandmother died. I always urged her to give up the dogs, not just because of the potential danger but because they were quite a tether and took up a lot of her time.”
The relative stressed the importance of addressing aggressive behavior in pets, urging other XL Bully owners to surrender their dogs if they notice signs of aggression. “We wouldn’t want any other family to go through this. We miss Angeline. She was a sincere person with a kind heart.”
Photographs from the scene showed a sign in one of the front windows of the home reading, “Never mind the dog, beware of the kids.” Neighbors were left shaken by the incident, which comes after the XL Bully breed was banned in England and Wales in February without an exemption certificate.
Owners of these dogs must adhere to strict regulations, including neutering, microchipping, and ensuring the animals are muzzled and on a lead in public. A neighbor recounted, “I never saw the dogs, but once when I had to knock on the house to retrieve a parcel, I heard them barking. They sounded like big dogs, and I was a bit wary.”
Angeline’s two sons, both in their twenties, raised the alarm after visiting their mother. One neighbor recalled, “They were both outside the house as paramedics tried to save their mum. One of the sons was in tears, but it was clear they were both devastated.”
The tragedy has prompted calls for increased vigilance and responsible pet ownership. Angeline’s relative concluded, “Anyone with an XL Bully-type dog needs to do the right thing if they spot aggression. It’s hard because of the attachment, but it’s necessary to prevent such heartbreak.”
The community mourns the loss of Angeline Mahal, remembering her as a kind-hearted and sincere individual whose life was cut short by this devastating incident.