Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, the former Big Brother star, has spoken out after being left with permanent scars from a dog attack, revealing she also faced relentless online abuse instead of sympathy. The 47-year-old media personality was bitten by what she describes as a Standard Bully at a friend's baby shower, suffering deep wounds to her shoulder that narrowly missed her neck.
Attack details and injuries
The incident occurred when Horgan-Wallace approached the tethered dog to say goodbye. Despite sitting calmly on the floor to avoid threatening body language, the dog bit her suddenly as she turned to leave. 'I heard my bone crunch. I'll never forget that sound,' she told The Sun. The bite landed high on her shoulder, close to her collarbone, causing two gaping holes that required antibiotics, a tetanus shot, and later stitches due to infection risk.
Victim-blaming and emotional toll
Horgan-Wallace says the physical trauma was compounded by vicious comments online. 'The amount of victim-blaming has been diabolical,' she said. 'People were saying the dog should have bitten me closer to the neck or that if they were the dog they would have done the same thing.' She dreaded waking up each morning, but her boyfriend reminded her: 'You're the victim here.' She admits she now suffers from PTSD and is frightened of dogs, despite previously being comfortable around them.
Calls for tougher regulations
Rather than blaming the breed, Horgan-Wallace advocates for responsible ownership and stricter rules for powerful dogs. 'People should have to complete training before they're allowed to own one,' she said. 'They're being bought as status symbols by some people who don't understand how to care for them properly.' She also believes the dog's welfare played a role, noting it was tied up in a hot room. The UK banned XL Bully dogs in February 2024 under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, following a series of attacks. NHS England recorded almost 11,000 hospital admissions for dog bites in England between 2023 and 2024. Since the ban, fatalities involving the breed have fallen, with 10 in 2024 and four in 2025.
Public response and aftermath
Horgan-Wallace initially shared her injury on Instagram, posting a photo of bandaged wounds and writing, 'I've been bitten by an XL BULLY!!!!!'. She later expressed gratitude the bite wasn't on her face or neck and that the victim wasn't a child. Despite the ordeal, she offered to contribute to training for the dog and never publicly identified the owner. Police later became involved after the incident came to their attention.
