Channel 4 star rushed to hospital after horror XL Bully attack | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

Big Brother legend Aisleyne Horgan Wallace has been permanently scarred following a vicious dog attack. The 47-year-old reality television personality rose to prominence on Big Brother in 2006 and has maintained an active social media presence documenting her life. This past weekend, Aisleyne was set upon by a dog, which necessitated urgent hospital care, leaving her fearing for her survival. In multiple social media updates, the TV personality – who identifies herself as a dog enthusiast – disclosed she had been severely mauled by an XL Bully.

The hazardous breed is characterised by substantial muscular build, and in the UK, it is illegal to breed, sell, abandon, or distribute the creatures. In recent years, there have been numerous accounts of individuals being assaulted by XL Bully dogs, with half of all fatal dog incidents in the UK between 2021 and 2023 being attributed to the breed.

Posting to Instagram Stories on Sunday, Aisleyne confirmed she had fallen victim to one of the animals, which she said attacked her abruptly and without provocation. Publishing a photograph of herself appearing distressed at hospital, though supported by a companion, she wrote: “I’ve been bitten by an XL Bully! ! !! ! You can see my f bone thank god fro my girl.”

Aisleyne proceeded to share an image of herself pictured with the dog in question, with the creature positioned near her face. She wrote: “The few mins before he bit me… everyone knows I’m a dog mummy. I love dogs. This dog loved me… then in a split second for no reason he didn’t”, reports the Mirror.

Urging fellow dog owners to exercise caution around the breed, she wrote: “Please please please understand how to raise and how these babies can switch. I’m in agony and scared for life now.”

Elaborating further, Aisleyne expressed relief that no children had been hurt by the dog. She wrote: “Thankful it wasn’t my neck or face. Sad I’m scarred for life. Glad it wasn’t a child and it was me… So conflicted… Dogs are pact animals they need u to be their leader. It makes them feel safe to know you are in control.”

She added: “If u let them do mad behaviour they will eventually execute that… Dig dogs are so powerful. Protect your kids it ain’t a joke.”

In December 2023, legislation was introduced in the UK making it unlawful to breed, sell, or abandon XL Bully dogs in England and Wales – while owning an unregistered XL Bully became illegal in February 2024. Comparable regulations took effect in Scotland in February 2024 – while Northern Ireland brought in requirements to keep the dogs muzzled and on a lead in public in July 2024.

The RSPCA has voiced criticism of the evolving legislation – which they fear fails to adequately safeguard the public. They state: “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 adds: “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. Despite this change in law, we will continue to campaign for more effective dog control in the UK, which focuses on prevention and early intervention, regardless of breed.”

A series of devastating fatalities have occurred across the UK in recent years involving XL Bullies. In 2024, a woman was killed by her two registered XL bullies in Hornchurch, east London.

That same year, a man named David Daintree was fatally attacked by his pet XL bully at his Lancashire home.

In the wake of the legislative changes concerning XL Bully dogs, approximately 800 animals were destroyed by police forces in England and Wales during the first year. An additional 400 were voluntarily put to sleep through the government’s compensation scheme after certain owners chose not to apply for exemption certificates to keep the animals.