Merseyside suffered a series of horrific dog attacks in 2022.
St Helens and Knowsley were both named in the top five areas in the country for hospital admissions due to dog attacks. Figures show that you are ten times more likely to be the victim of a dog attack in Merseyside than elsewhere in the country.
The five areas with the highest hospital admissions for dog attacks per 100,000 people per year are Knowsley at 24.2; Middlesbrough 21.4; Wakefield 20; Redcar and Cleveland 19.6 and St Helens 19.5.
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The NHS figures, released in May 2022, also show that the amount of dog bites requiring hospital treatment have more than doubled since 2008.
Bella-Rae Birch, 17 months old, died after being attacked by a dog on Bidston Avenue, St Helens, on Monday, March 21, 2022. The dog was humanely destroyed following the horrific incident. Tests confirmed that the animal involved was an American Bully XL, a legal breed not subject to any prohibitions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1999.
The toddler's tragic death was not the only one in our region in 2022 as a result of dog attacks however. Ann Dunn, 65, died at a property in St Brigids Crescent, Vauxhall, in October after being mauled by "multiple" dogs described by Merseyside Police as American Bulldog breed.
Her family realised something was wrong when she did not turn up to collect her grandson from school, according to reports. This was not the first time the nan had been attacked however, as Ms Dunn required hospital treatment in August 2021 after suffering a number of bites from a large dog, although her injuries on that occasion were not life-threatening.
It is unclear whether the dog that attacked her on that occasion was involved in her death.
Dog-on-dog attacks have also been a cause for concern in the region, as one dog owner told The Mirror in Stadt Moers Park. They said: "There’s been at least four dog-on-dog attacks recently in this park. Only the other day a dog had its throat ripped out and was left with 500 stitches. It’s a miracle it survived.
“This is my fear all the time. What scares me is that it could be a child next.
“It’s macho-ism, it’s young men who own these dogs. You have all these Bullies going around, all these Pitbull crosses, and they rule the roost, they do what they want to do.”
An RSPCA spokesperson said: "It's really worrying to see the increase in dog attacks but, sadly, it doesn't surprise us. We fear that these incidents could continue to rise following the boom in dog ownership during lockdown, coupled with a generation of dogs who missed out on vital training and socialisation due to lockdown restrictions, and due to a general lack of understanding around dog behaviour and why dogs bite.
"The current legislative framework for dog control doesn't work and we urgently need reform and consolidation. There is a disproportionate focus on the breed of dog that is involved in an incident but research shows us that breed is not a reliable indicator of whether a dog will use aggressive behaviour. We want to see an end to breed specific legislation which labels certain types of dogs as dangerous based on their appearance. We believe new measures are urgently needed which focus on preventing incidents, allow for early interventions, are based on scientific evidence and are proportionate.
"We also believe it's important for widespread and consistent education which promotes responsible and safe interactions with dogs.
"It's incredibly important to remember that any dog has the potential to be aggressive or bite. We would urge those who are responsible for dogs to ensure their dogs are well cared for and have good early-life experiences, and that they always supervise interactions, particularly involving children, and seek help for any concerning behaviour at the earliest opportunity. We would also urge the public to learn how to safely interact with dogs and to understand the body language and signs that show how a dog is feeling in order to respond appropriately."
A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesperson said: “The National Police Chiefs’ Council Dangerous Dogs Working Group have been working across the country to tackle the issue of dog attacks. As a result of this focus, we have seen an increase in the number of people reporting incidents to police. There are now officers in all regions of the country focussing on dangerous dogs and dog attacks, working with officers on the ground to ensure that investigations are launched when it is appropriate and proportionate to do so.
“We are aware that incidents can often be very alarming to members of the public who witness them, but I want to reassure people that we are taking the matter seriously and we are cracking down on those who own or breed dangerous dogs. We continue to ask members of the public who know of dangerous dog ownership to contact police on 101 or in an emergency always call 999.”
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