Huge rise in dog attacks

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/new ... 5541381.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MORE than 160 people were treated in South Yorkshire hospitals in just one year after being attacked by dogs, The Star can reveal.
The disturbing new figures show the number of dog attack cases treated in Sheffield's hospitals shot up by 31 per cent over a five-year period.

The statistics, slipped out by the Department of Health and placed in House of Commons library in the week before Parliament's summer recess, also show South Yorkshire hospitals dealt with 161 dog bite hospital cases in 2007/08 - up by 40 per cent from 115 cases in 2002/03.

Sheffield's Northern General and Royal Hallamshire Hospitals treated 81 people in 2007/08 following dog attacks while Sheffield Children's Hospital treated 25 patients with dog bite injuries, including 15 aged under 10 and another 10 youngsters aged between 10 and 18.

Barnsley Hospital treated 12 victims during the year, the Rotherham Hospital Trust saw 15 patients and Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals Trust, which runs hospitals in Doncaster and Worksop, treated 28 people.

Have you ever been attacked by a dog? Do you think the law should be changed? Join the debate by adding a comment below.

Sheffield MP Angela Smith, who is campaigning to change the law to allow more prosecutions, described the figures as "appalling".

The Hillsborough MP has tabled a private member's bill in the Commons which would allow the prosecution of owners whose dogs attack people on private property. Current legislation only covers attacks in public places.

Ms Smith told The Star: "These are appalling figures and underline the urgency of getting the law changed.

"We will be using the opportunity of a meeting with ministers in the autumn to push the case. These figures will form part of the evidence we put to them."

A Sheffield postman bitten five times by vicious dogs on his rounds says he has seen the number of aggressive dogs increase recently.

Phil Taylor, aged 37, based in Hillsborough, said people needed "reining in" - and would think twice if they faced prosecution if their dog attacked someone on their own property.

He said currently on his round there was one house where he left post in a box on the fence because the dog was so vicious. And there were three others - home to a mastiff, akita and another mongrel respectively - where he feared an attack.

Mr Taylor, a postman for 20 years, said: "I've noticed a rise in the number of aggressive dogs and irresponsible owners who think it's clever to have a vicious animal. There are more loose dogs too.

"At least once a week I have to use my bag as protection and let the dog chew on that until the owner can pull them off.

"We need such a law to rein in dog owners."

In the worst case for years Mr Taylor's colleague Paul Coleman was savaged by two dogs as he delivered mail in Grimesthorpe in 2007.

Mr Coleman, who is 6ft and weighs 17 stone, was dragged to the ground and pulled along the road during the attack.

He suffered bites to both legs and possible nerve damage to one of his arms. He was off work for six months. The owner was jailed.

Just last month pregnant Sarah Hammond, aged 26, was dragged to the ground by a dog which clamped its teeth on to her ankle off Jenkin Road, Wincobank.

Medics were unable to give her a tetanus jab because of her pregnancy.

In March three-year-old Paris Walker needed 50 stitches after an attack by her aunt's dog at Romandale Gardens, Manor.