A mother was left fearing for her baby's safety after an XL Bully lunged aggressively at her infant who was strapped to her chest in a carrier, as South Yorkshire Police revealed there have been 13 dangerous dog incidents in just 48 hours.
The frightening encounter was one of multiple attacks reported to police this week, including a serious incident where a man was hospitalised with facial injuries.
The man suffered lacerations to his face, neck and head after his American Bulldog attacked him when he tried to separate it from a Pocket Bully inside his Sheffield home. The dog was seized and remains in police kennels.
An elderly woman and her grandchild were also among those attacked by another loose dog in Sheffield during the same period.
CCTV caught the moment a resident was attacked by two dogs in Sheffield street
South Yorkshire Police/PA
The attacks come just months after the government's ban on XL Bully dogs following a series of devastating incidents across the country.
In a tragic case earlier this month, 10-year-old Savannah Bentham was killed by her own pet XL Bully at her home in Malton, Yorkshire, despite having what police described as a "close, loving relationship" with the dog.
Just days after the ban came into force, 68-year-old Esther Martin was mauled to death by her son-in-law's unregistered XL Bully dogs in front of her 11-year-old grandson.
The incidents have highlighted the ongoing concerns about dangerous dogs, with police forces across the UK recording more than 80 incidents a day.
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An XL Bully was involved in an attack in Yorkshire (stock pic)GETTYChief Inspector Emma Cheney, leading South Yorkshire's dangerous dogs response, issued a stark warning: "People think it won't happen to them, that their dog won't cause harm, but it can happen to anyone."
"Any dog can cause fear and harm and owners who do not step up and prevent harm to our communities will not be tolerated," she added.
The police force highlighted the strain these incidents place on their resources, requiring multiple officers and contracted kennel personnel for each response.
"We only have a limited number of resources, attending dangerous dog incidents takes officers away from other calls. If every owner steps up and makes small changes, we can make a difference," CI Cheney said.
From February 2023 to July 2024, the region recorded 796 dog attacks - 370 in 2023 and 426 in 2024.
The trend reflects a broader national crisis, with police forces recording 30,539 offences of dogs injuring people or guide dogs last year, up from 25,291 in 2022. More than 6,000 incidents requiring hospital treatment were recorded in 2023.
Experts from the University of Liverpool's School of Veterinary Science note that most dog bites come from animals known to the victim, often during everyday interactions like stroking or play.
