Dog attacks are once again hitting the headlines as numbers rise

By Katrina Elsey

Published August 31, 2023In: Personal Injury

Dog attacks can be tremendously distressing for not just the victim, but also their families and friends. A young boy was recently bitten on the head in Hull, after a dog apparently escaped from a nearby property.

Police attended a home in Bransholme, in Kingston upon Hull, after reports that a dog had attacked a child. Ambulance services attended the scene and found a young child who had unfortunately suffered head and leg injuries.

Sergeant Lucie Hunnybun, of Humberside Police, said: “With the co-operation of the animal’s owners, I can confirm we have now seized the dog following the incident. Officers remain in the area as we continue to gather information and assist our Dog Legislation Officer in establishing exactly what has happened to ensure we can look to take the most appropriate action.”

The BBC reported that statistics show there are more attacks over the summer months in the UK. Almost 9,000 people went to hospital in 2022 with dog bites, a rise of more than 1,000 incidents on the previous year.

There has also been a massive increase in dog ownership since the Covid-19 pandemic began, with an estimated 12 million dogs owned by families in the UK, up from nine million five years ago.

Although fatal dog attacks are rare it was also reported that a woman in her 70's was killed while sunbathing in her garden in Bedworth, Warwickshire, earlier this year.

There is no evidence that any particular breed of dog is likely to be more aggressive or attack than another and therefore it is important for people to remember that all dogs have teeth and can have the potential to bite!

The ongoing reported dog attack incidents in the news are very similar to many of the dog bite cases I deal with.

Animal attacks and incidents like these can have a life-changing impact both physically and mentally often with long lasting consequences. Whilst the summer holidays continue and large numbers of children are still out playing in parks and public places, I urge dog owners to take responsibility of their pets when out and about.