In the past 6 months we have have very few ‘reported’ incidents of dogs attacking people here in Whittlesey & Villages.
Below is an article in today’s BBC News of what to do if you are attacked by a dog.
Dog attacks in England and Wales have increased in recent years and while they remain rare, fears have grown due to serious and fatal attacks, such as that on 68-year-old Esther Martin earlier this month.
So is there anything you could do to protect yourself if faced with an aggressive dog?
The first thing to note is that despite a significant rise in the number of dog attacks recorded by police in England and Wales in the past five years, it is still an extremely rare event.
Not all attacks are reported to the police, but the latest data shows that in 2022 there were nearly 22,000 cases of out-of-control dogs causing injury.
The estimated UK dog population is 11 million.
Deaths are even rarer. The government says 23 deaths have been caused by dog attacks since the start of 2021.
But if you were unfortunate enough to find yourself in such a situation, would there be any dos and don’ts?
“The worst thing you can do if you’ve got a dog that’s rushing towards you is to run away,” says animal behaviourist Rosie Bescoby.
“I know that’s difficult when it’s probably part of our flight instinct, but there’s a risk of falling over.”
The RSPCA also advises against running as it may encourage the dog to chase you, as well as screaming, which “can trigger a more predatory response”, Rosie says.
Crossing your arms against your chest will make it harder for a dog to bite onto them or your sleeves, she says, and giving them as much space as possible can avoid confrontation.
“It’s one of those situations where you want to try and get a barrier between the dog and the person as well,” she said. “So if you can, get something to ram between them and then get the person behind a closed door.”
If you are in the street or a park, a bench, a lamp post or a litter bin may serve as an adequate barrier, says the RSPCA. If cycling, you could use your bicycle.
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