One of my older dogs is dead and another was left fighting for its life after being mauled by three unmuzzled XL bullies

A heartbroken dog owner has told how one of his older puppies is dead and another is still recovering after they were attacked by three XL bullies.

Blake McElhatton, 31, from Derby, was working as a teaching assistant at the time of the attack last January.

But he has since quit two jobs and is suffering from PTSD after his dog Spirit was brutally murdered by a pack of XL Bully dogs while out for a walk.

The dangerous dogs were not on a leash or muzzled at the time of the attack – which is against the law.

Mr McElhatton was at work when he received a call from two friends that his two pets – Spirit a terrier and Leo a Jack Russell – had been attacked by three beasts.

He rushed to the vets to be by their side and it was here that he discovered how serious Spirit’s injuries were.

He told the Daily Mail: ‘Leo had a broken leg, but Spirit was in much worse shape. He had an open wound on his neck, stomach and hind legs.

‘When I went to him [Spirit] lifted his face and I took off his oxygen mask and he licked my face. I just kept giving him lots of kisses.”

Blake McElhatton, 31, from Derby, pictured with his dog Spirit who sadly died after being mauled by a pack of XL Bully dogs in January

Mr. McElhatton with Spirit (right) and his live dog Leo (left). The 31-year-old was at work when he received a call from two friends saying his two puppies had been attacked

Mr McElhatton then made the difficult decision that Spirit, who was partially blind and suffering from dementia, was too unwell to undergo surgery, and he decided to put him to sleep.

But instead of feeling sad, Mr McElhatton said he felt more angry than anything.

He said: ‘I was so full of anger and rage because I was working at the time and because these dogs are my family and they are completely dependent on me to protect them.’

Both Mr McElhatton and Leo are traumatized by their horrific ordeal. According to his owner, Leo has become a ‘completely different dog’, while Mr McElhatton was left with PTSD and started undergoing therapy.

‘I actually always have flashbacks. “I can’t sleep and when I do I have nightmares about it,” he said.

‘Leo just doesn’t have confidence anymore. He is very shaky and anxious and does not like to be alone. He is always looking for Spirit.’

But from the tragedy, Mr McElhatton is trying to do something positive.

He has since launched a GoFundMe to wage a legal battle against the owners of the XL Bully dogs.

The grieving dog owner hopes the owners will be fined or even jailed for allegedly letting XL Bully dogs run without a leash and without a muzzle.

And he wants to sue the owners for the psychological and physical suffering caused by the attack.

After the attack, Mr McElhatton made the difficult decision that Spirit, who was partially blind and suffering from dementia, was too unwell to undergo surgery and decided to put him to sleep.

Mr McElhatton and Leo are traumatized by their horrific ordeal. According to his owner, Leo has become a ‘completely different dog’, while Mr McElhatton has been left with PTSD and has started therapy

Derbyshire Police said a 36-year-old woman from Derby was arrested following the attack on suspicion of ‘allowing a fighting dog in a public place without a muzzle or leash’.

Police said an investigation was ongoing and no charges had been filed so far.

As well as donations from generous members of the public, Mr McElhatton has also received support from other dog owners whose own pets have been injured or killed by XL Bullys.

“The donations were very kind and it shows that there are still kind people in the world and that love will always win over hate… People want justice for Spirit and I am truly moved by them,” he said.

Mr McElhatton has also started a petition calling on the Government to review the Dangerous Dog Act 1991 and reintroduce dog ownership licensing.

He continued, “Babies are being killed and even adults are being killed by their own dogs. I have done a lot of research on XL Bullys since the incident and they are not safe to be around and they cannot be trusted, they may just turn on you.

‘I want to raise awareness because what happened to me could happen to anyone.’

Click here to donate to Mr McElhatton’s GoFundMe.