Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, a former contestant on Britain's "Big Brother," has spoken out about a severe dog attack that has left her with permanent scarring. Horgan-Wallace recounted the incident, which occurred at a baby shower, where she was bitten by an XL Bully. She described the moment of the attack, stating, "When he bit me, I felt the crunch on my bone. I heard it. It bit me right at the top where my collarbone is, and I heard it crunch. It was horrific, I'll be scarred for life."
The incident unfolded when Horgan-Wallace, 47, encountered the dog, which the owner reportedly identified as a standard Bully rather than an XL. Initially, the dog appeared friendly, but it attacked her without warning as she turned to leave. Friends present described her arm as "pouring blood" and immediately sought medical attention. Due to concerns the dog might be euthanized, emergency services were not called, and Horgan-Wallace was taken to the hospital by friends.
Medical treatment involved cleaning the wound, stopping the bleeding, and administering antibiotics and a tetanus shot. She later required stitches, and the delay in immediate closure of the wound was attributed to preventing potential septicemia. "I had to walk around with gaping holes in my arm. It was horrible," she stated.
Following the attack, Horgan-Wallace reported receiving online trolling and is now experiencing symptoms of PTSD. The incident has prompted her to advocate for significant legal changes concerning the ownership of large dog breeds. "Police are now involved in the incident, and Aisleyne has called for urgent, sweeping changes to the law regarding large breeds," according to reports.
Horgan-Wallace emphasized the need for responsible ownership and understanding of dog behavior, particularly with powerful breeds. She stated, "Dogs are pack animals they need you to be their leader. It makes them feel safe to know you are in control. If you let them do mad behaviour they will eventually execute that. Big dogs are so powerful… protect your kids it ain't a joke."
In the UK, owners of XL Bully dogs are required to possess a valid Certificate of Exemption, which allows legal ownership of the breed under specific conditions and was implemented following breed-specific legislation.
