Hundreds of dog attacks have been reported to police in Wales in the last six months, official police figures show. Among the most serious incidents shared with WalesOnline, a child aged 13 had to be taken to hospital after being bitten on the leg, whilst an 11-year-old needed stitches after a dog bit his arm and caused injuries.
Following several recent reports of incidents involving dangerous dogs in Wales, WalesOnline submitted Freedom of Information requests to all the police forces in Wales, requesting the data. The number of attacks reported in each region varies significantly - and due to differences in reporting procedures figures can't be compared like-for-like - but the data does offer a shocking insight into the high number of reported dog attacks across Wales.
Read more: Wales' top police officers divided over proposal to create one Welsh force
The figures come as two people have appeared in court following a dog's fatal mauling of a boy in Caerphilly last November. Jack Lis died aged 10 after being attacked by a dog called Beast on November 8 last year at a friend's house in Pentwyn in Penyrheol, Caerphilly. Court documents describe the animal as a "large bulldog".
Brandon Hayden, 19, of Pen Y Bryn in Penyrheol, and Amy Salter, 28, of Llanfabon Drive in Trethomas, appeared at Newport Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Both are accused of being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog which caused the injury resulting in Jack Lis' death. You can read our report from court here.
In a poignant tribute to their son, Jack's family previously said: "We are absolutely heartbroken. Our lives will never be the same without Jack. This is not something any parent should ever have to be writing. We have so many words we want to say about our beautiful boy, but they do not seem enough.
"We love him more than words can describe. Our boy made us the proudest parents and family on the planet. He was the sweetest of boys. We will forever miss his quirky ways and his stories that he would spend so long telling us. He's forever in our hearts. Sweet dreams Jack, our perfect boy."
Scroll down for the figures on all the dog attacks reported to police in Wales in the last six months. We sought data on the number of dangerous dogs that had been seized from their owners between September 2021 and February 2022; how many dog attacks on other dogs, livestock, children and young people under the age of 18 and adults over 18 had been reported to officers; and how many dogs were destroyed by police following an incident in the same time-frame.
Dyfed-Powys
There were more than 20 dog attacks involving children and young people under the age of 18 in the last six months in the area covered by Dyfed-Powys Police, officers confirmed. Official figures in response to our Freedom of Information request show there were 21 dog attacks involving children and young people under the age of 18 and 94 dog attacks involving adults over 18 reported to officers in Dyfed-Powys Police from September to February. There were also 65 dog attacks involving livestock, but no data is available on the number of dog attacks on other dogs as Dyfed-Powys Police doesn't record this data unless a person is injured, they said.
In response to our Freedom of Information request, Dyfed-Powys Police also confirmed that one dog was destroyed following an incident, and four dangerous dogs were seized from their owners by police officers. Of these, three were from the Ceredigion area and one was seized from its owners in the Pembrokeshire area.
Gwent
There were 69 dog attacks reported to Gwent Police. Data shows there were three dog attacks on a child aged 17 and under, 19 on an adult aged 18 and over, one on a cat, six on livestock, 35 on other dogs and three dog attacks on other dogs and an adult aged 18 and over.
North Wales Police
North Wales Police confirmed to WalesOnline that five dangerous dogs were seized from their owners. Two dogs were destroyed following an incident in the same time-frame, but stated these dogs were handed over and not seized.
In a document shared with WalesOnline, North Wales Police listed 145 dog attack incidents in the area. They include:
- Mother reported that a dog "jumped up and bit her child on the hand" while he was in his pram
- Child aged two bitten by the family dog causing injuries
Child aged 7 was chased by a dog which grabbed hold of her clothing, the same dog had reportedly attacked people in the past, including the caller and a postman
- Child aged 11 needed stitches after a dog bit his arm and caused injuries
- Child aged 12 reported to officer that he'd been injured by a dog
- Child aged 13 was taken to hospital after being bitten on the leg by a dog and sustaining a "puncture mark" from the bite
- Woman was "pulled down" by a dog when she was out walking, she sustained injuries to her knees
Caller raised concerns for a child at a property after he witnessed three dogs fighting, resulting in its owners being bitten
- Biker left with five puncture wounds in dog attack - A caller told police her husband was biking when a dog started running alongside him and "attacked his left leg," leaving five puncture wounds
- Known offender allowed two canines to bite an individual on the calf and upper thigh area of her left leg, breaking the skin and causing swelling
- Caller reported that he'd been bitten on the shin by a dog
- Caller reported that she, her husband their dog had all been received minor injuries after being bitten by a dangerous dog
- Caller reported that he'd been bitten by a colleague's dog, causing injury
- Caller reported that a dog had bit a female, causing minor injury
- Caller reported that a neighbour's dog had gone into the garden and attacked the caller's father
- Caller reported that he'd been bitten by a dog whilst in a pub
- Dog attacked and bit a caller's cat
South Wales Police
South Wales Police confirmed there were 44 dangerous dogs seized during September 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 in the region covered by South Wales Police. The force declined to supply any further information on the nature of the incidents or where they were reported, due to the time it would take to go through the police logs and research the information we requested.
