CLIMBING cases of dog attack cases in Barnsley which resulted in six people being mauled in a year - including a ten-month-old baby - has led South Yorkshire Police to issue a warning to owners in a bid to end incidents.
The Chronicle can reveal five breeds - the Staffordshire bull terrier, akita, cane corso X, pitbull and the English bulldog - were responsible for attacks in Barnsley.
The first of 2024, which took place in Darfield in April, involved a 17-year-old victim while three people were injured in one incident involving an akita in Bolton in July.
However arguably the worst, which left a ten-month-old boy requiring surgery, involved a cane corso X in Hoyland in October.
Chief Inspector Emma Cheney urged owners to be more responsible.
“Something has to change - owners have to change - as we cannot continue to see the consequences that irresponsible dog ownership is causing to our communities,” she added.
“We know the majority of dog owners are responsible and want the best for their pet and family but there is also a minority that poses a great risk to innocent people, including their own families and other dogs.
“We are urging our communities to take action in 2025 to help us create a safer county.”
According to officers, subsequent research - based on other forces’ experiences - revealed children are most likely to be bitten by a familiar dog within a home as they are less likely to understand and react to a dog’s behaviour and warning signs.
Chf Insp Cheney added: “Everyone thinks it won’t happen to them, that their dog wouldn’t hurt anyone, but any dog of any breed has the ability to cause harm.
“We will never know how many bites or injuries owners’ actions have prevented but we are thankful for those who put measures in place.
“Teaching children how to interact with dogs, respect their boundaries, being responsible while out walking - it all makes a difference.”
Barnsley-based officers are ‘continuing to see an unprecedented demand on the force’, although it’s been warned there’s been no greater funding or resources to respond to rising incidents.
As a result, a more ‘proactive’ approach has been taken by those responsible with responding to issues.
“It’s a stark reminder that all dogs, no matter how long they have been part of your family, can attack,” PC Paul Jameson added.
“All dogs can be aggressive - they are animals, but some dogs have greater capability to cause harm due to their size, strength and characteristics.
“We are committed to educating dog owners and doing all we can to help them reduce the risk posed by their pets and we’re continuing to work alongside the NHS, charities and delivery companies to reduce injuries,
“We need everyone to do their part.”
