Woman, 66, mauled by two unmuzzled XL Bullys exterior her house

A woman said she feared for her life when she was attacked by two unmuzzled XL Bully dogs just outside her home.

Catherine, 66, who asked to use her first name only, suffered puncture wounds to her face and side and to had to receive a tetanus shot after the vicious mauling at around 5.30pm on May 10.

The retiree, from Chingford in East London, was on her doorstep when the dogs went for her.

Catherine was left shaken and says she’s still in shock more than three weeks after the incident. She said: ‘I was scared to death. I thought they were going to kill me. It’s made me a bag of nerves and I’m still in shock.

‘If it was a child getting attacked, it could have been fatal.’

Catherine (pictured), 66, said she feared for her life when she was attacked by two unmuzzled XL Bully dogs just outside her home in Chingford, East London

The retiree, from Chingford in East London , was on her doorstep when the dogs went for her

Video captured on a surveillance camera shows the owner of the dogs, who was standing nearby, intervening and pulling the dogs off the older woman

Catherine was enjoying the sunshine on her doorstep when one of the dogs playfully approached.

As the second dog joined in, both animals got riled up and launched their attack.

Video captured on a surveillance camera shows the owner of the dogs, who was standing nearby, intervening and pulling the dogs off the older woman.

Catherine’s son Mark says his mother has been living in fear of her neighbour’s dogs, which he says are always unmuzzled in public.

Mark said: ‘My mum has been living in fear of these dogs for a long time.

‘She loves dogs, having raised them my entire life and she currently owns Jack Russells, so she knew to stay down when the dogs were on top of her, instead of getting up and aggravating them.

‘The dogs are about a year old and are never wearing muzzles in public – even after the rule change.

‘They’re often left in the back garden and my mum can hear them non-stop barking all day long.

‘When they’re inside the house, they’re still barking and banging themselves up against walls.’

Catherine was enjoying the sunshine on her doorstep when one of the dogs playfully approached

As the second dog joined in, both animals got riled up and launched their attack

Catherine’s son Mark says his mother has been living in fear of her neighbour’s dogs, which he says are always unmuzzled in public

Catherine being helped by the dogs’ owner after they attacked her at her home

Catherine reported the incident to the police but decided not to support charges being brought by the authorities.

Since February 1 this year, it has been a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless you have a valid Certificate of Exemption.

It’s also an offence to have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.

Mark said: ‘She has even contacted her local MP to see if she can move house because she doesn’t feel safe.

‘There haven’t been any other attacks with these dogs, as far as I’m aware, but I think that’s just because they’re kept cooped up all day.

‘I think the fact that we haven’t heard anything from the police when they have all the evidence is a massive shame, especially since they’re meant to be cracking down.

‘Who knows, next time it could be a child.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said in a statement:

‘Police were called at about 17:32hrs on Friday, 10 May to reports of an incident where a woman was allegedly attacked by two dogs.

‘The woman attended hospital and her injuries were not believed to be significant.

‘Officers met with the victim as part of a scheduled appointment on Sunday, 12 May.

‘No arrests have been made. Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.’