New data has revealed that at least 16 dogs are seized every day in the UK, with experts warning that dangerous dog bans on breeds may not be the way to solve the maulings epidemic.
Since November 2023, just under 6,000 dangerous dogs have been seized by 27 forces, a Freedom of Information request found, meaning 114 dogs are taken every week.
Of the forces which responded, Greater Manchester had the highest figures, with 19 dogs seized a week.
It took 1,000 in a year and put 337 of the animals to sleep.
Second highest is the West Midlands force with 17 dogs, followed by Northumbria with nine.
West Yorkshire seized eight a week, while Leicestershire said it seized six.
Experts have now warned that banning dangerous dogs in order to keep the public safe has ‘critical flaws’ and the focus should be on making owners more responsible instead.
A spokesperson at Puppies.co.uk, which obtained the data, said: ‘The Dangerous Dogs Act has been in effect for over three decades and yet, hospital admissions due to dog bites continue to rise.’
They added that instead of focusing on breed, the emphasis should be on ‘addressing the root causes of dog aggression’ instead.
They called for stricter laws and enforcement on poor breeding practices instead.
It comes after South Yorkshire Police warned that ‘someone will die’ after thirteen reported dog attacks in just 48 hours.
These included one harrowing encounter where a young mother found herself and her baby in a frightening situation after a loose XL Bully went on the attack.
The American Bulldog’s owner was taken to hospital after suffering lacerations to his face, neck and head when he stepped in to break up a dog fight in his home in Sheffield.
The bulldog was seized by officers and is currently being held in police kennels.
An elderly woman and her grandchild were also among those attacked by another loose hound in the city.
The wave of violence is compounded by the heart-wrenching case of 10-year-old Savannah Bentham, who was mauled to death by her own pet XL Bully, which North Yorkshire Police described as having a ‘close, loving relationship’ with its owner.
The numbers spell out a grim story for the region, as from February 2023 to July 2024, there have been 796 dog attacks in South Yorkshire – 370 in 2023 and 426 in 2024. That has doubled from 2020.
A dog attack is counted as a crime when an ‘owner or person in charge allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England or Wales injuring any person or assistance dog’.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, police may seize any dog in any place, (public or private) in England or Wales if the dog appears to the officer to be dangerously out of control.
With the permission of a court, the police can seize a banned dog, even if a complaint hasn’t been made and the dog has not acted dangerously. And if the dog is in a public place, they don’t even need a warrant to do so.
It comes after a ban on XL Bully dogs came into force following a spate of devastating attacks by the dogs, leaving people dead or seriously injured.
A few days after the ban, Esther Martin, 68, was mauled to death by her son-in-law’s unregistered XL Bully dogs in front of her screaming grandson, aged 11.
Professor Carri Westgarth and Dr John Tulloch from the University of Liverpool’s School of Veterinary Science said the majority of dog bites are from a dog known to the victim.
Often this is the family pet and bites happen during stroking, restraining or just play.
The dog is often responding to discomfort, pain or fear.
A spokesperson at Puppies.co.uk said: ‘While the recent data on dog seizures is concerning, it’s crucial to remember that focusing on breed-specific bans is not the answer to promoting public safety.
‘The Dangerous Dogs Act has been in effect for over three decades and yet, hospital admissions due to dog bites continue to rise. Instead of focusing on breed, the emphasis should be on addressing the root causes of dog aggression, which generally stem from irresponsible ownership and breeding practices.
‘Dogs, regardless of breed, can exhibit aggressive behaviour if they are not properly trained, socialised, and cared for. Tighter breeding legislation and increased resources for enforcement are necessary to combat the rise of illegal and low-welfare breeders who prioritise profit over the well-being of the animals.
‘Early intervention strategies that identify and address concerning behaviours before they escalate are crucial. This includes providing training resources to dog owners and establishing clear protocols for reporting and managing potentially dangerous dogs.
‘Not to mention, this will reduce the burden on police forces that work tirelessly to manage dangerous dogs and ensure public safety.’
In May, an expert as warned the UK will ‘likely’ see more XL Bully attacks in future despite the breed having been banned by the Government.
Two separate attacks in that month left two young boys, aged five and 15, injured and taken to hospital while a woman was also killed by her two XL Bullies inside her home.
The spate of horrific attacks, as well as others earlier in the year since the ban was imposed, has seen people call into question whether it is working.
The Government brought in the ban on the muscular canines after they were blamed for maulings which led to at least 11 deaths since 2021. Those killed ranged from 17 months to 84 years of age.
But this is not expected to solve the issue, with one expert telling that further attacks are likely as the pets are being rehomed with ‘irresponsible’ owners who are unaware of how to look after them.
Doug Smith member of Bully Watch, said: ‘We will likely be seeing more of these attacks. They won’t go away.’
‘It is a really tricky and messy situation for police to respond to. They can’t go door to door to assess the owners and assess the dogs.
‘The ban hasn’t had an impact on the ownership of these dogs and they are being rehomed to unsuitable homes illegally.
‘People are rehoming these dogs to other irresponsible owners. It is a case of idiots giving their dogs to other idiots. These people think they are responsible owners when they aren’t.’
‘It is quite unprecedented. They have put this ban in place and people are still wanting to take these dogs into these homes.
Mr Smith said that while there the number of attacks by XL Bullies doesn’t appear to have been effected by the government ban, there are still fewer people breeding the dogs.
And Qarrar Somji, Director and Solicitor-Advocate at Witan Solicitors, commented: ‘Although the XL Bully ban aims to enhance public safety, it has critical flaws that undermine its fairness and effectiveness.
‘The ban’s reliance on breed-specific identification is problematic, as law enforcement officers need to distinguish XL Bullies from similar breeds, which is difficult due to the breed’s non-standardised features.
‘This can lead to misidentifications and wrongful seizures of non-XL Bullies. The focus on breed also disregards the role of responsible ownership in preventing aggression.
‘Not to mention, unclear identification guidelines can lead to subjective enforcement. This means that some owners may face severe penalties. A more effective approach would be to strengthen current laws to focus on individual dog behaviour and responsible ownership, alongside education and training resources.’