Thousands back dog petition.

More than 77,000 people have signed a petition started by a heartbroken pet owner whose Dachshund was mauled to death by three "out of control" dogs.

Nine-year-old Jeffrey died from his catastrophic injuries three days after the attack - during which his owner Carol Hartnell was also bitten.

Tens of thousands of people have since signed her petition calling for harsher punishments for people whose dogs are dangerous, out of control in public and attack.

"Twelve months on since Jeffrey was torn apart in front of me, I still cry every day," said Carol, who lives in Northop in North Wales.

"I have to live with the trauma of those memories for the rest of my life and I'll never stop fighting for justice.

"We need 100,000 signatures on our petition for it to be considered by Parliament."

Carol and her partner were walking on Crosby Beach on the evening of June 26 last year when Jeffrey was pounced on by two Lurchers and a Shar Pei. The Miniature Wire Haired Dachshund was tossed in the air "like a soft toy" and bitten on the neck and stomach during the two-minute attack.

Last September, Anfield resident Michael Waters appeared at South Sefton Magistrates and pleaded guilty to being the owner/person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control. He received a fine and has been banned from keeping dogs for three years.

Last month, Carol took part in one of a series of memorial walks held across the UK in honour of Jeffrey.

More than 6,000 dog owners took part in the event, which also included walks in the Isle of Man and in the US.

"The support I have received from the worldwide Dachshund community has been above and beyond," said Carol, who works as a theatre scrub practitioner.

"I get messages every week from desperate owners whose dogs have been attacked or killed; they don't know how to report it or how to get justice. I'm glad to help as many people as I can, but it feels bittersweet because every incident is a constant reminder of what I've lost. My saving grace is Stanley - the Dachshund pup I adopted last July."

To view the petition visit www.facebook.com/justiceforjeffreyofficial