Charlotte Potts, a 32-year-old personal trainer from Hexham, Northumberland, was left needing surgery after being mauled by her dog, which she had adopted on Facebook just three weeks earlier. The dog, a one-year-old Cane Corso cross American Bulldog named Blue, attacked her during a routine walk on Saturday, July 4, causing severe injuries to her legs and arm.
Attack Details
Charlotte had adopted Blue from a breeder on Facebook. Initially, the dog settled in well and showed no aggression towards her or her family. However, during a walk at an enclosed dog park around 9am with her younger brother, the dog suddenly turned on her. After throwing a ball, Blue ignored it and instead lunged at Charlotte, sinking his jaws into her legs after ripping through her trousers.
Charlotte screamed for her eight-year-old brother to run and call for help while Blue continued to attack. The dog then targeted her right arm, which she allowed him to bite while she used her left arm to tie his lead to a fence. The ordeal lasted around eight minutes. Charlotte said, 'I was trying to wrestle him off me and shouting for help. I was in there for seven or eight minutes with him attacking me. If I was there any longer, I wouldn't have made it. My little brother watched it all happen.'
Injuries and Surgery
Paramedics took Charlotte to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where she underwent a two-hour surgery to address wounds on her legs and arm. She was hospitalized for a couple of days and now requires regular wound dress changes twice a week. 'He pierced my bicep muscle and pierced bits of my thigh,' she said. The dog was euthanized by the armed response team after it refused to calm down.
Background and Warning
Charlotte had previous experience with similar breeds, having owned an American Bulldog cross Mastiff for eight years. She noted that Blue was fine on everyday walks and showed no aggression towards dogs or children. 'He was getting four mile walks a day, so it was a big shock when it happened,' she said. Before the attack, police visited Charlotte after an anonymous tip-off that she owned an XL Bully. They determined Blue was an American Bulldog by taking a photo of his head and did not remove him.
Charlotte, who credits her kickboxing background for helping her fight off the dog, said, 'I love dogs, but I want to raise awareness around making sure dogs are fully assessed before being rehomed.' The attack has left her with lasting physical and emotional scars, but she hopes her story will prevent similar incidents.
