Police warning after increase in dog attacks

Police in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset have been contacting local schools at the start of the new term, highlighting the need for dog safety.

Forcewide the number of people injured by dogs has risen sharply. In August 2014 there were 6 cases of a person being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. In July 2015 that figure had risen to 63.

As a result of this police, in partnership withthe RSPCA and the Dogs Trust, are contacting primary schools and offering safety advice.

PC Philip Wilson, a dog handler with Devon & Cornwall Police said: “Young children are particularly vulnerable and we want to do what we can to ensure the number of people injured by dogs falls. The affect on the injured person can last a lifetime both physical and physiological, along with the animal possibly being rehomed or put to sleep quite often through no fault of its own.”

Officers are contacting all primary schools in the three counties in the coming weeks, explaining some of the issues that can be avoided by following simple guidelines. Advice and information is being shared from the police, RSPCA and Dogs Trust including short videos, posters and the do’s and dont’s when interacting with dogs.

Schools are also being encouraged to arrange a visit to the school provided by an educational officer from the Dogs Trust should they require a more in depth and personal presentation.

PC Wilson added: “It is estimated that around half of all children will be bitten by a dog at some point during their life, usually by either a family dog or a dog that belongs to a friend or neighbour. Bites from stray dogs are rarer as they tend to be wary of humans and usually keep their distance.”

Nationally the number of people taken to hospital after dog attacks has soared by 76% in the past decade. New figures show more than 200,000 people a year are estimated to be bitten by dogs in England, with the annual cost to the NHS of treating injuries about £3 million. Hospital admissions due to dog bites have been steadily rising for the last five years statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show:

Officers are encouraging the public, particularly parents, to visit the below websites and take a few steps to becoming safer around dogs.

http://www.learnwithdogstrust.org.uk/workshops-tours/education-officers/...

http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/dogs/company/children

A number of posters showing how you should and should not interact with dogs, along with knowing some of the signs that your dog is unhappy with something are also available on the links below.

Please take the time to have a look at them and discuss with your children.

https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/parenting/dogs/

https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/youth/how-to-speak-dog/