When dogs ATTACK
WOMAN - UK|September 04, 2023
With the number of people being bitten by dogs at the highest level since records began, we ask, who is really to blame?
VERONIQUE HAWKSWORTH
When dogs ATTACK

Dogs may be (wo)man’s best friend, but a shocking number of adults and children are attacked by the animals in the UK every year. In 2022, over 1,000 surgeries were performed on child victims of dog attacks, with almost 40% of those under the age of four.

Earlier this month, five-year-old FarrahLeigh Nichol was attacked by a dog outside a shop in Teeside, leaving her with facial injuries so severe that she needed surgery. And she’s not alone, as 3,473 attacks on people of all ages were recorded last year.

Currently, four dog breeds are banned in the UK – the pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro – but there have been calls for the controversial American bully XL – a newer, larger variation on the American bulldog – to be outlawed too, as it was responsible for a majority of attacks since 2021.

Some experts believe a change in the way we treat our pets, particularly since the pandemic, could also account for the rise in dog aggression, with many dogs kept indoors for up to eight hours per day without proper outdoor exercise. ‘Dogs left on their own are going to get frustrated,’ says Dr John Tulloch, lecturer in veterinary health at Liverpool University. This frustration, coupled with a lack of socialisation during lockdowns, may have led to a spike in aggressive behaviour.

It’s clear that more needs to be done to tackle the crisis, but who really is to blame when dogs attack – the dog, the owner or the victim if they provoke the dog? One mum tells us how her teenage daughter’s life was changed after a particularly brutal bite…

'YOU NEVER TRULY KNOW HOW A DOG WILL REACT'

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 04, 2023-Ausgabe von WOMAN - UK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 04, 2023-Ausgabe von WOMAN - UK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS WOMAN - UKAlle anzeigen
How to avoid a cold when partying
WOMAN - UK

How to avoid a cold when partying

Burning the candle at both ends might seem fun at this time of year, but it can spell disaster for your health and wellbeing...

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 16, 2024
ASK US ANYTHING
WOMAN - UK

ASK US ANYTHING

SUZIE HAYMAN AND SUSAN QUILLIAM CAN HELP

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 16, 2024
MOWED DOWN after a Christmas party
WOMAN - UK

MOWED DOWN after a Christmas party

Anna-Louise Bates has finally allowed herself to enjoy the festive season again

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 16, 2024
A weekend in...VILNIUS
WOMAN - UK

A weekend in...VILNIUS

A dreamy couple of days in Lithuania's captivating city can be easy on the purse

time-read
2 Minuten  |
December 16, 2024
The letter that SAVE YOUR
WOMAN - UK

The letter that SAVE YOUR

Why do a third of women miss their breast cancer screenings?

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 16, 2024
New love in 2025 WOULD BENICE
WOMAN - UK

New love in 2025 WOULD BENICE

Growing up in Bradford, West Yorkshire, to Punjabi Indian parents, Anita Rani says her household ‘didn’t really do Christmas’ – but boy, is she making up for it now!

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 16, 2024
'2024 has been DREADFUL'
WOMAN - UK

'2024 has been DREADFUL'

Prince William admits that this year has been the hardest' in his life. Is blood thicker than water in times of need

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 16, 2024
The dark side to your CHRISTMAS NIGHT OUT
WOMAN - UK

The dark side to your CHRISTMAS NIGHT OUT

Do you know what’s in your glass this party season?

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 02, 2024
IS THERE ANYTHING MORE NOSTALGIC THAN CHRISTMASES PAST?
WOMAN - UK

IS THERE ANYTHING MORE NOSTALGIC THAN CHRISTMASES PAST?

Do you remember the anticipation before the big day, pondering endlessly about what should go on your Christmas list? I would lovingly write two or three things down, pop it into an envelope and leave it by the fireplace to be wafted up the chimney like something out of Mary Poppins.

time-read
1 min  |
December 02, 2024
The Christmas that CHANGED OUR LIVES
WOMAN - UK

The Christmas that CHANGED OUR LIVES

We speak to three women about their most wonderful time of year

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 02, 2024