A woman who is organising a vigil for two Staffordshire bull terriers shot dead by Met Police officers wants to change people’s perceptions of supposedly “dangerous” dogs.

Mandi Baker was left “devastated” by the deaths of Marshall and Millions – and is hoping for a large turnout at her event in Hythe.

She has two Rottweilers of her own and says she has been “massively" impacted after watching the footage, which has gone viral, of the incident in Poplar, east London, on May 7.

An estimated 80 vigils have been organised across the country.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating what led to the deaths of the dogs and the tasering of a man by officers.

Mrs Baker told KentOnline dogs like the Staffies and her Rottweilers are wrongly given a bad reputation – and people even cross the road to avoid her when she’s walking them.

“I’ve never done anything like this before but it is a cause I really care about,” she said.

“This has impacted me massively. I have two Rottweilers of my own and I couldn’t imagine if it happened to them.

“These dogs have a bad reputation and you can’t tarnish them all in the same breath. My two are soppy as anything!

“We want someone to be bought to justice for this.”

The Met Police said it had received reports of a woman who was attacked by a dog.

As a result, the man was tasered and Marshall and Millions were shot dead.

“When I’m walking my dogs I get people crossing the road to get away from them...”

A petition has also been set up online, which has received more than one million signatures.

The vigil in Red Lion Square, Hythe, on June 4 will include a moment of silence, candle lighting and speeches from members of the community.

The mother-of-three has says the event is not a protest. She just wants people to pay their respects and be “a voice for the dogs”.

She added: “I understand some of these can be violent, but I don’t see any aggression in the two dogs that were shot.

“These dogs had six or seven officers standing over them, they’re obviously going to bark.

“When I’m walking my dogs I get people crossing the road to get away from them.

“I have children, I would not let them in the house if I thought they were dangerous.”

Mrs Baker believes we are a nation of “animal lovers” and says “just because some dogs are big, it does not make them dangerous”.

In a statement, police watchdog the IOPC said it is “appropriate” that complaints linked to the incident on May 7 should be “independently investigated”.

Amanda Rowe, an IOPC regional director, said: “We understand the public concern regarding this incident and it is appropriate that it should be independently investigated.

“We will examine whether the actions of the officers involved were reasonable and proportionate in all of the circumstances and in line with relevant policy and procedure.”

The Met has defended its actions, saying police officers “have a duty to act where necessary”.

The dog’s owner was charged with being the person or owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control and being in possession or custody of a dog whilst disqualified from owning or keeping a dog.

He is set to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court next month.