Dog attacks in England and Wales have increased by over a third in the last five years. In 2022, police recorded nearly 22,000 cases of runaway dogs causing injuries, the BBC reports. In 2018 there were 16,000 ads.
The number of confiscated dogs also rose by a good third (36 percent) to 3,500 animals. During the same period, the dog population in the UK grew by just 15 percent.
Which could explain the increased dog attacks
One reason for the increase could be closer observation. Police across the country have increased their focus on dog attacks, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said. Expert Paul Jameson from the South Yorkshire Police also indicated a connection with the corona pandemic.
Some dogs have not received such good training, some are not used to visitors. “It can affect the dog and create stress,” Jameson told the BBC.
So far this year there have been two fatal dog attacks against humans in England. A dog sitter was attacked in January, and a few weeks later a four-year-old was killed by a newly acquired pet.
BBC report
