A former reality TV star has spoken out about the backlash she faced after being attacked by a dog, revealing that she has been subjected to a wave of abuse online instead of sympathy.
Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, 47, was rushed to hospital after being bitten by a Standard Bully during a friend's baby shower, suffering deep wounds to her shoulder that came close to her neck.
The physical injuries have been compounded by relentless victim-blaming from strangers on social media, something she believes has been almost as traumatic as the attack itself.
'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.'
The TV personality admitted reading the comments left her dreading picking up her phone each morning.
'I was waking up feeling awful, wondering what people were going to say next,' she explained. 'Then my boyfriend reminded me: "You're the victim here." That completely changed my mindset.'
The terrifying incident unfolded at what should have been a joyful celebration, with Aisleyne meeting the large dog before and remembering it as friendly.
'I just felt sorry for him,' she recalled. 'I thought, "That dog must be getting frustrated."'
Before leaving the party, Aisleyne decided to say goodbye to the animal, deliberately approaching calmly and sitting on the floor beside the dog.
'Out of nowhere, he just bit me,' she said. 'I wasn't even looking at him.'
The bite landed high on her shoulder, close to her collarbone, leaving her with deep wounds and lasting emotional scars.
'I heard my bone crunch. I'll never forget that sound.'
Aisleyne says her first instinct was to avoid ruining the celebration, but the situation quickly became impossible as blood poured down her arm.
'Everyone started screaming because there was blood everywhere. I was just begging someone to get me a towel.'
She was driven to hospital by a friend, where doctors decided not to stitch the wounds immediately due to the high risk of infection from a dog bite.
Instead, she spent several days with what she describes as 'two gaping holes' in her shoulder, receiving antibiotics, a tetanus injection, and later stitches.
The attack has also left Aisleyne with a deep-seated fear of dogs, something she believes is a result of the incident.
'I can already feel the PTSD,' she admitted. 'I used to be completely comfortable around dogs of any size. Now I'm frightened.'
Aisleyne believes irresponsible ownership is the real issue and wants tougher regulations for powerful breeds like the XL Bully.
'These dogs are incredibly powerful,' she said. 'People should have to complete training before they're allowed to own one.'
She also believes the dog's welfare played a role in what happened, citing the fact that the dog was tied up in a boiling hot room.
'Something clearly wasn't right,' she said. 'I'm a dog mum myself. If my dog bit someone, my first thought wouldn't be to attack the victim. I'd want to understand why it happened and get the dog the help it needed.'
For Aisleyne, speaking publicly now is about correcting what she says has been a false narrative about her experience.
'I never named the owner or tried to shame anyone,' she said. 'But so many lies have been spread online that I felt I had to finally tell people what really happened.'
Aisleyne's comments come as a ban on owning or possessing XL Bully dogs in England and Wales comes into force, with owners facing up to six months in jail and/or an unlimited fine.
The ban was enforced under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 following a series of attacks, which police said had put a 'huge burden' on forces.
Between 2023 and 2024, NHS England recorded almost 11,000 hospital admissions for dog bites in England, highlighting the risks associated with certain breeds.
Aisleyne's experience is a stark reminder of the dangers of dog ownership and the importance of responsible breeding and ownership practices.
'Dogs are pack animals, they need you to be their leader,' she said. 'If you let them do mad behaviour, they will eventually execute that.'
Aisleyne's comments are a powerful reminder of the need for greater awareness and education about dog ownership and the importance of prioritizing animal welfare.
As Aisleyne continues to recover from her ordeal, she remains committed to raising awareness about the dangers of irresponsible dog ownership and the importance of prioritizing animal welfare.
