Britain’s deadly dog attack epidemic

Following a recent spate of dangerous dog attacks, new figures show incidents have risen by 34 per cent in England and Wales over the past five years.

In January this year, four-year-old Alice Stones died after being attacked by a dog in her back garden in Milton Keynes, Bucks.

And just last month, Natasha Johnston, 28, was mauled to death by the dogs she was walking in Surrey.

Covid lockdowns saw an increase in new dog owners and in pets being bought from unscrupulous breeders, which are more likely to suffer behavioural problems.

At the same time there has been a disturbing social media trend of filming stunts that involve winding up dogs in a dangerous way.

One factor behind the increase in attacks is the rise in certain breeds, including the muscly American bully, which stems from the American pitbull terrier.

Six of the ten dog-related deaths in the UK last year were caused by bully or bully crosses, including Jack Lis, ten, who was mauled to death.

Britain’s deadly dog attack epidemic