References
Reducing dog bites and promoting safety: Merseyside Dog Safety Partnership
Abstract
The UK is well known for being a nation of dog lovers and recent evidence has shown the positive impact owning a dog can have on human health and wellbeing. However, for people who have experienced a dog bite injury, this can be quite a different story.
Dog bites have a profound impact on our healthcare system. From April 2019 to March 2020, there were over 8,800 hospital admissions as a result of a bite or strike from a dog in the UK (NHS Digital, 2020). A recent analysis of hospital admission data in England found that while incidences of dog bites among children have remained consistently high, incidences in adults have tripled over the last twenty years (Tulloch et al, 2021). However, only 1% of dog bites result in hospital admissions, so this is a small contribution to the overall picture (Westgarth et al, 2018). These incidents can potentially have a negative impact on dog welfare (such as punishment, seizure or rehoming). A review of dog bites to children by Jakeman et al (2020) suggested that where dog behaviour modification and risk management is not possible, temporary or permanent rehoming should be considered. Dog bites are preventable, and we all have a responsibility to ensure we help reduce this impact to safeguard both dog and human health and wellbeing.
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