‘I was trapped!’ recalls woman, 28, savaged by XL Bully that ‘played tug of war’ with breast implants leaving 200 wounds
A WOMAN has told how she was mauled by her XL Bully in a horror 35 minute attack as it “played tug of war” with her breast implants.
Charlie Watts was savaged by hellhound Juju after she tried to drag him off her other XL Bully crossbreed Titan.
After fleeing through a window with 200 wounds, Charlie spent four days in hospital and says she is lucky to be alive.
The 28-year-old, who still has no use of her arm, said: “I could literally feel my [dental] veneers clashing against his teeth.
“And the only thing stopping him from getting my face was my arm in his mouth.”
Tattoo artist Charlie took Titan in three-years-ago and rescued Juju last December as restrictions on XL Bully ownership loomed.
“I fell in love with Juju as soon as I saw him and travelled all the way to Bradford to get him“, she said.
The tattoo artist had been cautious when she got Juju and kept him separate from her chihuahua, house rabbit, hamsters and an anaconda.
But on the night of April 9 Charlie was alone in her flat in Holt, Norfolk, when Juju went for Titan and she tried to break them up.
She recalled: “I was trapped on the floor and at one point Juju got hold of my left breast and was playing tug of war with it.
“He was just fixated on hurting me – you could see it in his eyes.
“But Titan jumped in to fight him off. Titan saved my life – I wouldn’t be here without him.”
Titan’s intervention allowed Charlie to get to her first storey bathroom, out the window and down a ladder.
A neighbour helped her out as blood poured from her wounds and she was rushed to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
She stayed there for four days getting the leg and arm injuries treated.
XL BULLIES AND THE LAW
OWNING an American XL Bully is restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Since December 31, 2023, it has been against the law to sell, give away, abandon or breed from an XL bully.
Since February 1, 2024, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate.
Owners in England and Wales who applied for an exemption had to buy insurance, microchip their dog and pay a £92.40 fee per animal.
Registered dogs must be housed securely, and kept on a lead and muzzled in public.
Older dogs must also be neutered by June 30, or by the end of 2024 for dogs under the age of one.
Anyone choosing not to keep their XL bully had to have it registered to be euthanised by a vet by January 31, 2024.
Police can seize unregistered prohibited dogs, and their owners face a criminal record and unlimited fine.
She said: “I’ve now got tissue, nerve and muscle damage in my arm and I still have no use of it.
“The doctors didn’t think they’d be able to save my breast implant, but luckily they have kept it in.
“I was going to get them redone last year but I’m so glad I didn’t now.”
‘200 PUNCTURE WOUNDS’
Her grandfather Alan Gilbey said at the time: “She has got something like 200 puncture wounds on her arms and legs.
“She had stitches, sutures, glue…whatever.”
The dogs were locked inside the blood-drenched Housing Association flat for 12 hours before cops removed Juju and had him destroyed.
Alan confirmed Juju was an unlicensed XL Bully which needed a home as the owners claimed they couldn’t look after him any more.
Charlie added: “You just never know what people do to those dogs.
“My dog [Juju] had four owners before me so anything could’ve happened to him before.”
Despite her harrowing ordeal, Charlie remains a supporter of XL Bullies insisting any breed could attack.
Restrictions on XL Bully ownership came in to force on February 1 this year following a string of fatal attacks involving the dogs.
It is now an offence to own one in England or Wales without an exemption certificate, or to walk one without a lead and muzzle.
A Norfolk Police spokesperson said: “Emergency services were called to an address in Pheasant Close, Holt at 23.45 on Tuesday 9 April 2024 to reports of a woman injured after she intervened between two dogs that had attacked each other.
“The victim, a woman in her 20s, sustained serious injuries. She was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for treatment.
“One dog, an XL Bully, has since been destroyed.”
The force said inquiries were “ongoing” to determine the breed of the second dog, Titan.