South Yorkshire Police have reported 13 incidents involving dangerous dogs in less than 48 hours, including a man suffering serious facial injuries and a woman fearing for her baby’s safety.

On Thursday, November 14, at 3:22 pm, emergency services were alerted to a man in Sheffield attacked by his own American Bulldog after trying to separate it from another dog.

The man sustained serious injuries to his face, neck, and head and was hospitalized, 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 Inspector Emma Cheney, leading the work on dangerous dogs across South Yorkshire 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.

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

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

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

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