Merseyside Police says it has the greatest variety of reported dog bites triggering injury in the nation
A police is encouraging dog owners to keep their animals on leads in public and asking individuals not to method dogs they do not understand.
The campaign intends to minimize dog attacks in Merseyside after the area was revealed to have the greatest dog bites injury rate in the nation.
Merseyside Police said the Take the Lead campaign used “understanding and abilities” for accountable dog owners.
Data revealed kids under 16 were more than likely to be the victims of dog bites.
The threat “increases considerably” in the summertime school vacations as kids spend more time in public areas or at home with animals, the force said.
During the campaign Merseyside Police will publish videos on social networks and speak with individuals in parks and other public locations.
Insp Katie Wilkinson said it was “essential” to inform youths from an early age “about how to be around dogs”.
“Some of our easy messages consists of not troubling dogs when they are consuming their supper or when they are sleeping and not approaching a dog you do not understand.
“If walking your dog out in your neighborhood, constantly ensure they are on a lead and think about whether they require to be muzzled.”
Statistics offered by the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool revealed that in Merseyside, there tends to be more dog bites in locations with socio-economic difficulties.
Between 1998 and 2018 around 5% of all nationwide healthcare facility admissions in relation to dog bites taken place in Merseyside, with Knowsley consisting of one of the most events per populations throughout 333 regional authorities in England.
Image source, Family image
Bella-Rae Birch passed away in healthcare facility after a dog attack in St Helens
Dog attacks in Merseyside
- An whole street in Wavertree went without post for almost 6 months after a Royal Mail worker was chased and attacked by a dog
- A four-year-old boy was entrusted to life-altering injuries after being assaulted throughout a check out to a friend’s house in Norris Green
- On 21 March 2022 17-month-old Bella-Rea Birch was killed after she was attacked by a dog in her home on Bidston Avenue in St Helens
- On 3 October 2022, Ann Dunn, aged 65, died following a dog attack at a house in St Brigid’s Crescent, in Kirkdale
- In January, a three-year-old boy suffered severe facial injuries after he was assaulted by a French Bulldog inside a home in Sefton
- A seven-year-old woman was required to healthcare facility after she was mauled by a dog in a park in Wallasey on 17 July
Dr Carri Westgarth, a dog behaviour professional from the University of Liverpool, said: “It is very important to bear in mind that any dog can bite despite how well you understand it, and many bites will take place in the owner’s home.
“It’s crucial to offer dogs their own safe space to be alone, provide a lot of workout and psychological stimulation, and when your dog wishes to be left alone leave them be.”
She said “dogs do not wish to bite you” and it was a “last hope reaction”, including that individuals ought to search for indication of dogs “being unpleasant in a circumstance and eliminate yourselves, or them, from it”.
Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can likewise send out story concepts to [email protected]
