South Yorkshire Police Warn Dog Owners After 13 Attacks in 48 Hours

Police in South Yorkshire have issued a strong warning to dog owners, urging them to “step up before someone dies” after a total of 13 dangerous dog incidents were reported within a 48-hour timeframe. South Yorkshire Police detailed that these incidents included a man in Sheffield who sustained lacerations to his face, neck, and head after being attacked by his own dog. Further reports involved a loose XL Bully breed dog jumping at a woman carrying her baby in a chest carrier, and another incident where a woman and her grandchild were assaulted by an unleashed dog, also in Sheffield. The police force emphasized that owners who did not “not step up” and prevent harm caused by their animals would not be tolerated. Chief Inspector Emma Cheney commented: “People think it won’t happen to them, that their dog won’t cause harm, but it can happen to anyone.“You are responsible for your dog’s actions and we continue to put people before the courts.” She further noted that two of these attacks were carried out by loose dogs, with one of them being an XL Bully. The man injured by his own dog had been attempting to separate an American Bulldog from a pocket bully inside his residence. The dog involved in this incident was seized and is currently being held in police kennels. Ch Insp Cheney also pointed out that responding to these call-outs imposes a financial burden on the force, in addition to the expenses for the dogs’ care while their future is decided. She added: “We only have a limited number of resources, attending dangerous dog incidents takes officers away from other calls,” and concluded, “If every owner steps up and makes small changes, we can make a difference.”