Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan Wallace has been left scarred and scared for life after an XL Bully dog attacked her, exposing bone and requiring emergency hospital treatment. The 47-year-old reality icon, who rose to fame on Big Brother in 2006, shared details of the incident on Instagram Stories on Sunday.
Horgan Wallace described the attack as sudden and unprovoked, stating the dog had been affectionate moments before. She wrote: "I've been bitten by an XL Bully!!!!! You can see my f bone thank god fro my girl." She also shared a photo of herself posing with the dog prior to the attack, noting the animal had loved her before switching in a split second.
Warning to Other Dog Lovers
Urging caution around the breed, Horgan Wallace said: "Please please please understand how to raise and how these babies can switch. I'm in agony and scared for life now." She expressed gratitude that no children were injured, adding: "Thankful it wasn't my neck or face. Sad I'm scarred for life. Glad it wasn't a child & it was me." She also emphasised the need for owners to establish control, stating: "Dogs are pact animals they need u to be their leader. If u let them do mad behaviour they will eventually execute that."
Legal Status of XL Bully Dogs in the UK
XL Bully dogs are banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Since December 2023, it has been illegal to breed, sell, abandon, or give away XL Bullies in England and Wales. From February 2024, owning an unregistered XL Bully became illegal. Scotland introduced similar laws in February 2024, while Northern Ireland required muzzles and leads in public from July 2024.
Despite these measures, the RSPCA has criticised the breed-specific legislation, stating: "We've been campaigning for many years against the Dangerous Dogs Act and Breed Specific legislation, which bans dogs simply because of how they look, and we are deeply concerned about the addition of another dog to the list of banned breeds." The charity added: "We are part of the Dog Control Coalition and all of us in the sector believe that this ban will not effectively protect the public."
Fatalities and Enforcement
Several fatal attacks involving XL Bullies have occurred in recent years. In 2024, a woman was mauled to death by her two registered XL Bullies in Hornchurch, east London. That same year, David Daintree was killed by his pet XL Bully at his home in Lancashire. According to reports, an estimated 800 animals were euthanised by police in England and Wales within the first year of the ban, with a further 400 voluntarily put down through the government's compensation scheme after owners opted not to seek exemption certificates.
