13 incidents involving dangerous dogs have been reported in less than 48 hours by South Yorkshire Police.

Some of the incidents included a man suffering serious facial injuries and a woman fearing for her baby’s safety.

Leading the work on dangerous dogs in the region, Chief Inspector Emma Cheney said: “Recently we have sadly seen another fatal incident in the UK of a dog causing death.

“People think it won’t happen to them, that their dog won’t cause harm, but it can happen to anyone. Any dog can cause fear and harm and owners who do not step up and prevent harm to our communities will not be tolerated.”

Emergency services were alerted to a man in Sheffield attacked by his own American Bulldog after trying to separate it from another dog on Thursday, November 14, at 3.22 pm.

The man sustained serious injuries to his face, neck, and head and was hospitalised, while the dog was seized and placed in police kennels.

With the rising number of dog attacks placing significant strain on resources, police are urging dog owners to act responsibly.

Other incidents included a loose XL Bully showing aggression towards a baby in Sheffield and an attack on an elderly woman and her grandchild by another loose dog.

Chief Insp Cheney stressed the importance of owners making small but critical changes to prevent these incidents and reduce the strain on police resources.

Each emergency call results in extensive follow-up work, including safeguarding checks, criminal investigations, and the care of seized dogs in kennels.

Chief Insp Cheney said: “You are responsible for your dog’s actions, and we continue to put people before the courts.”

For advice on dog training or teaching children about safe dog interactions, visit the Blue Cross website.