We are supporting the Taking the Lead campaign that has launched today to help reduce incidents of dog bites in Merseyside, starting this summer.
The campaign is also being supported by Merseyside Dog Safety Partnership (MDSP), the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Blue Cross, University of Liverpool, Royal Mail and local councils.
The aim of Taking the Lead is to offer important safety tips to all dog owners in Merseyside about looking after their pet, especially around children, which could prevent serious injuries.
To help with this aim, over the summer holidays Merseyside Police will post a series of informative and useful videos on our social media platforms to educate dog owners as well as join with partners to speak to people in parks and other public places.
The videos will involve expert tips and advice on ownership and how to reduce the chances of dog bites.
Police data shows that children under 16 are most likely to be the victims of dog bites and this risk increases significantly in the summer, when more children are at home with their pets or around other people’s dogs, and are also spending more time in public spaces.
Although parks and beaches have been identified as hot spots for incidents, dog bites can happen anywhere and most bites occur in the home. Any offences that happen in private can be prosecuted in the same way as bites in public.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:
“Here on Merseyside we have seen the devastating consequences a dog bite can have. Yet, we know there are some simple steps that dog owners can take to help protect people, particularly vulnerable children. I urge dog owners across Merseyside to take the time to watch these videos, listen to the expert advice and think about the measures they can take to prevent anyone getting hurt by a dog over the summer and beyond.”
Statistics provided by the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool shows that in Merseyside, there tends to be more dog bites in areas with socio-economic challenges.
Between 1998 and 2018 around 5% of all national hospital admissions in relation to dog bites occurred in Merseyside, with Knowsley containing the most incidents per populations across 333 local authorities in England.
In terms of the other boroughs, St Helens was the fifth highest local authority for hospitalisation rates, Liverpool was sixth, Sefton was 30th and Wirral was 106th.
Mr Christian Duncan, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said:
“At Alder Hey we see children with dog attack injuries several times a week. It is often the child’s face that comes into contact with the dog, so we treat lots of cheek bites and injuries on prominent parts of the face i.e. parts of the nose, lip and parts of the ear. These injuries can be life-changing. By raising awareness of both the risks and appropriate behaviour around dogs, I hope the Taking the Lead campaign can help reduce these kinds of injuries.”
Another key focus of Taking the Lead is advising people to think before they buy a dog and research the breed characteristics to make sure they can provide that breed of dog with the right home setting.
The breeding of large bull breeds by unlicensed breeders for onward sale to some people who keep them as status dogs instead of pets, or who cannot provide the living space and stimulation for these breeds of dog, is also concerning the police and the Merseyside Dog Safety Partnership.
These breeders are unregistered and the dogs and puppies are often badly treated and kept in poor conditions.
They are then placed into homes that are unsuitable for their size and this poses significant risks to the people who live there.
Criminals who breed status dogs do so for profit and in many cases it funds serious and organised crime in our local communities.
When finding the right dog for your home, you can always check the Dogs Trust website for the latest advice, which includes reputable breeders: Dogs Rehoming & Dog Rescue Charity | Dogs Trust.