Shocking dog attack figures in South Devon

Councillor's labrador is among victims

More than 550 people have been attacked by dogs in South Devon so far this year, and now a leading Torbay councillor is calling for action before the figures escalate further.

Earlier this year Liberal Democrat leader Steve Darling (Barton with Watcombe) was injured himself when a Bully XL attacked his guide dog while he was out canvassing in Torquay.

Cllr Darling suffered cuts as he tried to stop the attack, and guide dog Jennie had to be treated by a vet for her injuries. It took four people to pull the attacker off the stricken guide dog.

“Enough is enough,” said Mr Darling. “I am aware that the government is planning to ban Bully XLs, but clearly we should be following the advice from RSPCA and the Dogs Trust seeking greater regulations around the owners of the dogs, rather than demonising a single breed.”

And, he said, Torbay Council should consider reinstating the post of dog warden to help cut attacks. The bay does not currently have a dog warden.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust says 556 people sought treatment at minor injury units for dog attacks across South Devon in the year up until Wednesday 20 September.

Cllr Darling was so shocked by the figures, he wrote to the environment minister to share the figures.

In his letter he says that banning the Bully XL breed – a recently-developed American breed which can become aggressive – is not the answer. Instead the focus should be on owners whose dogs are dangerously out of control and breeders who use them for profit.

“The law shouldn’t focus on certain types of dogs,” he writes. “But instead deal with aggression in all dogs. When dogs, including XL Bullies, are bred and reared poorly, and denied training, socialisation and good care, aggression becomes more likely. That’s what needs tackling.

“We cannot and should not keep adding dogs to the banned list – we need a fundamental change to the law on dogs acting dangerously to protect the public now and in the future.”

The NHS figures show that 288 people have been treated for dog attack injuries so far this year at the Newton Abbot Urgent Treatment Centre, 180 at Torbay Hospital’s Emergency Department and 88 at the Minor Injuries Unit in Totnes.

In the past five and half years almost 3,500 people have been seen at the three centres.