A dog lover was saved by her pet when an XL Bully she had taken in became violent and mauled her, the shaken woman has revealed.
Charlie Watts was left with around 200 puncture wounds to her arms and legs after she was savaged by the ‘unlicensed’ dog she was looking after.
The unnamed animal is said to have turned on her when she tried to stop it from fighting with her own dog, which she describes as an XL Bully cross called Titan.
Ms Watts managed to escape the crazed beast by locking herself in her bathroom at her home in the Norfolk market town of Holt.
A neighbour is understood to have heard her cries for help shortly before midnight on April 9 and raised the alarm.Â
Charlie Watts was left with around 200 puncture wounds to her arms and legs after she was savaged by the ‘unlicensed’ dog she was looking after.
The unnamed animal is said to have turned on her when it began fighting with her own dog, described as an XL Bully cross called Titan (pictured). The attacking dog has since been put down while Ms Watts’ pet has been seized by police
Firefighters helped her escape through a window to avoid the XL Bully she was looking after that was camped outside.
Norfolk Police confirmed the dog that attacked Ms Watts had been put down.
The force added they were continuing to hold onto Titan while officers establish what breed it is, and whether the pet falls into the official category for an XL Bully – which is banned in the UK.
Heavily tattooed Ms Watts, who is in her 20s, was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where she spent four nights before being released on Saturday.
Her grandfather, Alan Gilbey, who was at her home on Monday, said: ‘She’s recovering. I’m just cleaning up the blood and stuff.
‘She’s out of the hospital. She has got something like 200 puncture wounds on her arms and legs. She had stitches, sutures, glue… whatever.’
He added his granddaughter hadn’t regained the use of her hands yet but said: ‘Fortunately, her dog saved her life. He pulled the other one off. He was a smaller dog.
‘She’s got him neutered and registered because they said he was borderline, so she should be getting him back tomorrow.
‘He’s not a banned dog because we already had him tested two years ago but you know what the police are like. They took one look and said he was a banned dog but that is not the case.’
Norfolk Police confirmed the dog that attacked Ms Watts had been put down and said they were continuing to hold onto Titan (pictured) while officers establish what breed it is
Heavily tattooed Ms Watts, who is in her 20s, was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where she spent four nights before being released on Saturday
A neighbour is understood to have heard Ms Watts; cries for help shortly before midnight on April 9 and raised the alarm (Ms Watts is pictured with her beloved pet, Titan)
Mr Gilbey explained the dog his granddaughter had been looking after was an unlicensed XL Bully which needed a home as its owners couldn’t ‘look after’ it anymore.Â
‘She was looking after it. It was like a rescue and she took it in. She had only just got it and didn’t realise what it was,’ he said.
A series of messages have been posted on Facebook by Ms Watts, calling on police to release her pet as soon as possible.
One said: ‘TITAN SAVED MY LIFE & police have him. Need him home asap, not only (for) him but for my mental health. Any help & advice welcome!! Please help me get Titan back.’
Another post claimed: ‘Titan got the dog that was trying to kill me.’
A third message, accompanied by a photo of Titan with loveheart emojis, said: ‘Getting some rest. Thinking of you my king. Mummy get you soon. This is killing me.’
Ms Watts also posted a video on Facebook over the weekend, showing her sitting on her hospital bed, clutching a bunch of flowers with her arms and left leg bandaged.
Friends have rallied round to back her account that Titan saved her life and is not a banned or unregistered pet.
Danna Barber wrote on Facebook: ‘Titan has been seized by the police after saving his Mum’s life when the other dog attacked her!!
Ms Watts managed to escape the crazed beast by locking herself in her bathroom at her home (pictured) in Holt, Norfolk. She was eventually helped out of a window to escapeÂ
Friends have rallied round to back Ms Watts’ account that Titan saved her life and is not a banned or unregistered pet
‘I see this boy when they took him away!! He was so confused and scared it broke my heart. We are now all standing strong around Charlie to make sure we get this boy home!!’
Ms Barber posted another message which said: ‘Best boy in the world. Saved his mum’s life.’
Another friend wrote: ‘I’ve never met your lad Titan but can see in his eyes he’s a good boy bless him. He’s probably so confused. I hope he’s home soon.’
Restrictions on XL Bullies came into force on February 1 this year following a string of attacks that led to fatalities and life-changing injuries.
It is now an offence to own one in England and Wales without an exemption certificate or to walk one without a lead and muzzle.
A Norfolk Police spokesman said: ‘Emergency services were called to an address at 23.45 on April 9 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. A second has been seized and its breed is being determined. Enquiries are ongoing.’
