Since February police have seized five dogs in Caerphilly on suspicion of being banned breeds, Gwent Police has confirmed. In February WalesOnline previously reported that 13 dogs had been seized by the force since the beginning of the year.
It means so far in 2023, 18 dogs have been removed from their owners in the borough. The crackdown came after 10-year-old schoolboy Jack Lis from the area died after sustaining "catastrophic and unsurvivable" injuries after a dog attack in November 2021.
Just over a year later, 83-year-old Shirley Patrick, who was also from the area, suffered significant injuries during the incident and died in hospital in December 2022.
Read more: Police want to speak to this man following 'serious' dog attack in a supermarket car park
The force has been urging residents to report any dog they fear is a dangerous breed. Police are able to prosecute if criminal offences are identified, but several dogs have been returned to thier owners without further action.
A spokesman for Gwent Police said: "We’ve seized 18 dogs while carrying out targeted warrants and the dogs will be examined by specially trained officers. The power to prosecute remains an option for us if criminal offences are identified, although several dogs were returned to their owners subsequently."
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