Sharp rise in dog attack injuries
ARISE in dog ownership during the pandemic could be behind a sharp increase in the number of injuries caused by out of control dogs in Runcorn.
Figures released by Cheshire police under the Freedom of Information Act showed in the year 2019-20, the town had 20 recorded incidents of owners with a dangerously out of control dog that caused injury to a person or assistance dog.
This figure jumped to 31 recorded incidents in 2020-21, followed by another jump to 39 in 2021-22.
This was more than twice as many as the 16 reports received by Cheshire police in 2018-19 and far greater than the 25 in 2017-18.
The jump from 20 to 39 means the number nearly doubled during the first two years of the pandemic.
Figures were released for the offence type of “owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England or
Wales (whether or not a public place) injuring any person or assistance dog” as this was the closest match for an initial request for data relating to dog attacks.
Figures for Widnes showed no obvious increase in injuries caused by dogs, with no clear trend over the last five years, starting at 22 incidents in 201718, dropping to seven in 201819, and then 19, 17, and 16 in the years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively.
Following the release of the data, the RSPCA said increased dog ownership during the pandemic might have caused a “knock-on effect” and urged any owners with concerns about their pet’s behaviour to speak to a vet.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “Dangerous dogs are the responsibility of the police, but the RSPCA advises all owners that they keep their pets under control.
“There has been a rise in dog ownership during the pandemic which may have a knock-on effect on such figures.
“But the RSPCA always encourages responsible dog ownership and this includes ensuring pets remain under their owner’s control when out and about in public.
“We would urge anyone with concerns about their dog’s behaviour to speak to their vet who may refer them to a clinical animal behaviourist.”
The Weekly News requested the data following a flurry of reports involving out-of-control dogs in Runcorn earlier in the year.
● More information and advice can be found in the “aggression” section on dog behaviour on the RSPCA website at rspca.org.uk