Police have issued a warning after a child was left injured after being bitten by a dangerous dog outside their school in North Yorkshire.
The incident occurred outside the front gates of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Tentergate Road in Knaresborough earlier this month, and now North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
The incident occurred at school pick-up time, as the dog was tied to a fence at the entrance.
The police force issued a statement urging dog owners to take extra care after the child was taken to hospital for their injuries.
A police spokesperson said:
“Dog owners are urged to take responsibility for their pets. Please do not leave dogs unattended around school premises near where young children may be playing.”
The incident comes after figures revealed that dog attacks recorded by police in England and Wales have risen by 21% in a year, as there were more than 30,000 reported offences in 2023, compared to 25,000 the year before.
The concerning rise comes in the same year that XL Bully dogs were banned by the government after a spate of fatal attacks.
The new rules made it illegal to own an unregistered XL bully dog, as well as making it an offence to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow XL Bully dogs to stray in England and Wales.
Paul McMullan, Personal Injury expert at Oakwood Solicitors Ltd commented:
“We see far too many injuries as a result of dog attacks, where owners have just not considered whether their dog is under control. Whilst they might be very friendly with family and those they know, how do they react to strangers?
“When leaving the dog unattended in a front garden, can a child or anyone get access to the dog? These are the things owners need to think carefully about.”
What can I do if I have been attacked by a dog?
If you have unfortunately become a victim of a dog attack, we would recommend reporting your injury to the police as soon as possible to prevent others from becoming injured.
If the dog is classified as “beyond control”, the police may seek authorisation for the dog to be destroyed or recommend that owners incorporate preventative measures such as muzzles, letterbox covers, a training course or cages.
In addition, a victim of a dog attack may be able to make an application to the government for a compensation award via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority scheme, which has been set up to reimburse victims of violent crimes, although this is limited to instances where the dog has specifically been used as a weapon.
Alternatively, you may wish to submit a claim against the dog owners and their insurers directly, which is not as strict in terms of qualification or awards.
Further reading
Dog attacks up 21% in England and Wales – Oakwood Solicitors
Criminal injury (CICA claims) – Oakwood Solicitors
WHAT TO DO NEXT
If you have any questions or concerns regarding a dog in your area or wish to submit a claim for compensation, please get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation with our Public Liability team.
Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
Aimee Fox joined Oakwood Solicitors in October 2023 as a Paralegal in the Criminal Injury Department. Prior to this, Aimee graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a 1:1 degree in Law with Crimino…
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