Reality TV star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, best known for appearing on Big Brother, was rushed to hospital after being bitten by an XL Bully. The 47-year-old media personality, who has appeared on Loose Women and Good Morning Britain, shared a photo of her bandaged shoulder, stating she could see her bone. 'I've been bitten by an XL BULLY!!!!!', she wrote on social media, adding that she is now 'in agony' and 'scarred for life'.
Attack Details
In a series of posts, Horgan-Wallace described the incident: 'Everyone knows I'm a dog mummy. I love dogs. This dog loved me, then for a split second for no reason he didn't…' She urged followers to understand how to raise such dogs, noting that 'these babies can switch.' She expressed gratitude that the bite was not on her face or neck and that the victim was an adult, not a child. 'Glad it wasn't a child and it was me… So conflicted,' she added.
UK Ban on XL Bullies
Since February 2024, owning an XL Bully in England and Wales without a Certificate of Exemption is a criminal offence. The ban, enforced under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, followed a series of attacks that placed a 'huge burden' on police. The breed is described as having 'a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power,' with adults standing 19-20 inches tall.
Between 2023 and 2024, NHS England recorded nearly 11,000 hospital admissions for dog bites. Wales saw 600 hospitalisations, and Scotland over 1,100. The government stated that XL Bullies were 'disproportionately involved' in deaths since 2021. After the ban, fatalities fell to 10 in 2024 and four in 2025, but attacks continue. Police can seize unregistered dogs, and owners face up to six months in jail or an unlimited fine.
Mixed Public Response
The ban has drawn mixed reactions. Actor Tom Hardy, a former XL Bully owner, called it 'extreme' on Instagram, saying his dog Cass was a 'deeply kind and loving companion.' He acknowledged concern over rising attacks but argued that many pets 'pose no threat whatsoever.' Love Island's Faye Winter said owners felt 'discriminated against,' while Gemma Atkinson called attacks 'horrendous' but believed dogs are a 'product of their environment.'
Recent convictions include Sean Garner, whose XL Bully savaged 84-year-old John McColl, who died five weeks later; the dog was shot 10 times by police. Ashley Warren was jailed for over 10 years after his XL Bully mauled his ex-partner's mother, Esther Martin, to death.
