London - A chihuahua puppy has been attacked and killed by a flock of seagulls in her own back garden.
Five-month-old Bella had been kept inside her home after being targeted by the angry birds on previous occasions.
But the tiny pet managed to get out after the back door was left ajar and was savaged as she desperately tried to scramble back inside to safety.
Devastated owner Nikki Wayne, who was having a shower at the time, came outside to find her beloved dog had been pecked to death by the airborne assassins.
The mother of five, of Honiton, Devon, said: “It’s terrible. I can’t believe my poor little Bella has gone. These birds are out of control – they need to be stopped.”
Miss Wayne, 57, said the birds – notorious scavengers – hover near her home at least twice a day looking for food.
She feared for Bella’s safety after noticing how the seagulls were “eyeing them up” from the roof as they played in the garden.
“They were so brazen they even started to swoop down towards my face, even brushing me,” she said.
Vets advised her to keep the dog indoors or stay with her at all times while outside. Miss Wayne has now warned others to be extra-vigilant in case the birds attack their pets or even target babies and children.
The RSPCA said such incidents are rare and urged dog owners not to panic.
RSPB spokesperson Tony Whitehead said it was only the second fatal gull attack involving dogs he knew of. They may have been defending their territory during breeding season or simply scavenging for food, he said.
A survey last year found that gulls, which snatch food, drop mess on cars and bully smaller birds – even miles from the coast – are Britain’s most hated birds. However, it is against the law to kill them or interfere with their nests.
Daily Mail