I was assaulted by an XL bully at work, but I still think the ban is unfair

A teenager is ‘lucky to be alive’ after being attacked by a 110lb XL bully while she was at work.

Gilana Milner, 19, was working at an animal rescue centre when dog Hugo lunged at her as she was changing her water bowl. The huge dog dragged her to the ground, mauling her chest and leg, and staff had to push him away when he refused to open his jaws.

And even though she was “injured” for five minutes and needed emergency surgery to treat her injuries, Gilana doesn’t blame the dog. She continues to work with animals and has always dreamed of working for the RSPCA.

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And she still thinks the government’s ban on XL bullies is unfair because it’s not the dogs’ fault if they’re aggressive. Gilana, from Wakefield, said: “I’m lucky to be alive. He was teasing me and I couldn’t do anything, I was screaming and yelling.

“(But) I don’t agree with their ban: if dogs have problems, it’s because of past trauma or the way they were treated by humans.”

Recalling the attack, she added: “I tried to reach the door several times. They aim for the big arteries in the legs. When they have you down, they aim for your neck.”

“I kept thinking about my mother. I knew I was going to die and I didn’t want to.