UK and Spain

Dangerous dogs in the UK are a major problem - every so often, there's news of someone, usually a small child, somewhere in the UK, who has had the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Dog bites are a major child-health problem in the United Kingdom, exceeding the total combined number of cases of measles, whooping cough and mumps in the UK each year. Dog attacks in the UK are also one of the most common causes of severe facial lacerations in children. Each year, approximately 27,000 facial dog bites are reported in the UK, 18,000 of them requiring plastic surgery. 

The majority of these savage attacks on children are by "the family pets"!!!!  (Have you noticed how the owners of the relevant dangerous dog, invariably describes the dangerous dog as the "family pet" !!!)  At alarmingly regular intervals, you keep hearing of dogs attacking kids. Something should be done to help stop more attacks on children by dogs, some of the more dangerous dogs are detailed below.

The problems with dangerous dogs in the UK are getting worse every year. Just in London alone, due to dogs attacking children, there were 58 children requiring hospital treatment in 2003, five years later, in 2008, 296 children required hospital treatment following a dog attack!
For the whole of the UK, in 2005, there were 3,787 A&E admissions in hospitals for dog attacks on children in the UK, up 42% from 2,652 in 2004.

For anyone looking for a list of dangerous dogs in the UK, or a list of banned dogs in the UK, just read through this page, but please note, we're often asked, "what are the most dangerous dogs in the UK?" The answer to that isn't quite clear cut, but by looking at the facts on this page, you'll see that Rottweilers and Bull Terriers feature quite a lot in dog attacks on children, so you will be able to draw your own conclusions!!!
 

19th of May 2009 - A toddler has been scarred for life after being attacked by a dog in his own front garden.

Five-year-old Andrew Osborne was playing with his twin brother Matthew and his older brother Jamie, eight, when the animal jumped into their garden and mauled the youngster.

Devastated dad Craig, 37, is demanding the stray dog be put down when it is found and has revealed the young child will be scarred for life following the sickening attack in Easthouses, Dalkeith, Midlothian.

Andrew underwent emergency facial surgery for the deep cuts to his cheek at Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital and will have to endure another operation to repair the damage to the right side of his face.

Craig and Barbara Osborne, 35, spent the whole of Tuesday night clutching their son’s hand as he tried to recover from his plastic surgery ordeal.

Mr Osborne, a mechanic with Peter Vardy, said: “Jamie, my eldest son, went running into the house to tell my wife and when she came out she found Andrew covered in blood and screaming his head off.  She called for the ambulance and he was rushed into the Sick Kids for treatment.

“It looks like he will be scarred for life because the bites to his face have left very deep cuts in his cheek.”

Now, the angry dad-of-three is demanding the dog be put down as soon as it is found.

He said: “This shouldn’t be allowed to happen again, so when the dog is found I want it destroyed.  I don’t want any other family to go through what we are going through.  Andrew’s twin Matthew has just clammed up and won’t say a word about what happened, and Jamie is blaming himself for everything.  He feels because he was the older brother he should have been taking care of the other two. But, we’ve tried to reassure him none of this was his fault.”

Andrew and his two brothers are pupils at St David’s Primary School, Dalkeith, and the twins’ teacher, Mrs Patricia Morgan, has sent her best wishes to the family.  Mrs Morgan said: “We were all shocked and upset to hear what happened to Andrew and the whole school wishes him well and we hope he will be back at school soon.”

Lothian and Borders Police are asking that any persons who may have witnessed the attack or may have information that would assist in tracing the dog and its owners, contact their local police station.

7th of February 2009 - Another baby killed by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier
A baby boy was killed by the 'family pet', a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who snatched him from a baby basket while his grandmother slept, an inquest heard today.

Three-month-old Jaden Mack was staying with his grandmother at her home in Ystrad Mynach, South Wales, while his parents went out for the evening.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Williams of Gwent Police told the inquest in Merthyr Tydfil: “His grandmother placed him in a baby basket, as had happened before with the agreement of his parents, within the front living-dining room. The grandmother would appear to have dropped off to sleep and upon waking found the terrible scene.” Mr Williams said "post mortem findings indicated Jaden died from the injuries inflicted by the dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier."  Jaden had been placed in the baby basket in the lounge with her grandmother temporarily, and would not have stayed there all night, he added.

The tragedy occurred in the town of Ystrad Mynach, 12 miles north of Cardiff. The child was taken to Prince Charles hospital in Merthyr Tydfil where he was later pronounced dead.

His grandmother, named locally as Denise Wilson, was treated for severe shock in hospital.

“We never thought it could happen to us, but we are now grieving the loss of our 'little man' who will always be in our hearts and loved very much by all of his family and friends.”

Neighbours reported hearing screams of panic as Denise Wilson, the baby's grandmother ran into the street crying for help.

Friends rushed into the house to help and managed to drag the dog off the child who was bleeding severely from the attack.

Neighbours in the street where the attack occurred confirmed that it was a regular arrangement and that the baby had stayed at the house several times before.

Heather Organ, 47, said she was watching television when she heard "screaming". "It seemed as if somebody was very distressed or being attacked," she said. "I came out and saw my neighbour and he knocked on the door and asked her to open the door.

"The grandmother came out and she was screaming 'The baby is dead. He is dead'

"When I entered the room, the baby was obviously dead. The baby had a severe injury to his neck and with that the police arrived."

She added: "It was dreadful. There was blood all over the floor."

Another neighbour, Gail Jones, 45, said she was walking back from a night out when she heard a distressed woman.

"It was just after 12pm and I heard the grandmother, she was more than crying – she was absolutely hysterical. The poor woman. It was terrible."

"You see these stories on the telly and you don't think it is going to happen on your street.

"I know one neighbour tried to give the baby the kiss of life, so you can imagine what state he is in now. Your heart goes out to the family. It is just so tragic."

Marion Harding, 64, who lives two doors away, said: "It was just gone midnight when I heard hysterical screams in the street. Other neighbours went to find out what was happening and found the baby was being attacked by two dogs.

"It was a terrible shock when I heard the baby had died – it's just too dreadful for words."

Other neighbours said the Staffordshire Bull terrier called Tyson – after World Heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson – was normally docile and there had been no previous trouble with it.

Chief Inspector Jim Baker said: "This is a tragic incident for the family and the community. "Gwent Police Family Liaison Officers are currently supporting and assisting the family through this very difficult time. The family wish to be left alone to grieve."

The funeral of the baby, Jaden Mack, killed by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier :

4th of February 2009 - Another child mauled by a Bull Mastiff
A nine-year-old Derbyshire girl has undergone reconstructive facial surgery after being bitten by a dog.

Niamh Webster-Guy was standing on a pavement outside a friend's house in Cotmanhay when a Bullmastiff dog jumped up a fence and attacked her.

Niamh underwent a three-hour operation to repair damage to her face and received more than 100 stitches to her face.

The dog's owners declined to comment. Derbyshire Police said they were investigating last week's attack.

Cheryl Webster, Niamh's mother, said she wanted the dog to be destroyed. "I want justice done...not only because of what has happened to us but because it could happen again. "I think it's the responsible thing to do."

Niamh said she was still upset about her injuries. "It just feels numb and like a balloon. I still feel it's quite gruesome and bad."

Photo of a Bull Mastiff below :

22nd of December 2008 - Two Rottweilers savage a postman just doing his job of delivering letters !
A postman has undergone a six-hour operation after being attacked by two Rottweiler dogs while delivering mail.

Keith Davies "had his arm nearly ripped off" in the attack on Monday morning in Cambridge, according to his union.

Cambridgeshire police said the dogs had been destroyed following the attack and an inquiry was under way. Royal Mail said the 54-year-old postman was making "steady progress" in Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, and an "urgent investigation" had begun.

Mr Davies was savaged outside a property in Trumpington on the outskirts of Cambridge.

Bricklayer Anthony Lunn, 44, came to his aid fighting off the dogs with an iron bar.

He said: "I ran over with an iron bar when my son told me a man was being attacked by a dog. When I approached the dogs, they both ran at me. I retreated back to my van and ran one of them over. But every time I got out of the van, the other dog came at me. I got on the phone to the ambulance and police, and kept revving the engine to distract the dog until it stopped mauling the postman. It eventually stopped, but after a long time. He was in a huge amount of agony. The police said we saved his life. But I only did what anyone else would have done."

Mr Davies, who was filling in for an injured colleague, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital by air ambulance.

Dave Joyce, national health and safety officer for the Communication Workers Union, said a bricklayer had gone to Mr Davies' aid and "probably saved his life. He had his arm nearly ripped clean off. He underwent six hours of surgery. He suffered nerve and tendon damage. He has a great big hole in his arm. We don't know whether they are going to save his arm. Mr Davies and his family are traumatised. We also don't know what long-term psychological damage he will suffer."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Thankfully, he is making steady progress in hospital today, however we are, of course, shocked by this incident and are urgently investigating what happened. Regrettably, dog attacks are a hazard faced by our employees - we record about 5,000 dog attacks on our postmen and women every year."

The Royal Mail spokesman also said "Incredibly, there's still a few naive people out there who say that you shouldn't necessarily blame the breed of Rottweilers and that all dogs are dangerous.  To say that a big muscular strong dog like a Rottweiler is no more dangerous than any other breed is not only a ridiculous comment, but terribly naive and is the kind of thing to expect from a fan of one of the dangerous breeds of dogs. These 2 Rottweiler's have almost severed the mans arm from his body - for the people who try to say that all breeds bite, yes, all breeds can bite, but when was the last time you heard of two Chihuahua's almost ripping off a postmans arm - they are simply not capable of it and therefore by definition not as dangerous as Rotties."

Does the UK really need more dogs like this one below ? ?

9th of October 2008 - Another Bull Terrier savagely attacks baby
Terrified residents have told how the savage dog dragged a baby along the street, before a bus driver intervened.

The dog, a Bull Terrier, had escaped from a garden, also bit four people in Mitcham, south London, before being shot dead by police marksmen.

Police officers in Mitcham, south London, received a series of calls after the bull terrier dog bit a one-year-old boy on the leg before attacking a bus driver, a 50-year-old woman and another person, who received facial injuries.

Police launched a hunt for the animal, helped by a police helicopter and dog handlers, and it was shot dead.

Scotland Yard said a 29-year-old woman was arrested for having a dog "dangerously out of control".  The bite victims were taken to hospital.

Jackie Haggis, a 38-year-old foster carer from Tavistock Crescent, Mitcham, witnessed the attack from her house, which was only a few yards away from the scene of the attack. She said: "I heard a load of noise outside. The noise became louder and turned into screaming and shouting, and I looked out of the window and saw the Bull Terrier dragging the baby along the street in it's teeth. If the bus driver hadn't come to the baby's rescue the baby would have certainly b petrifying. There were five men trying to help by hitting the dog with a fire extinguisher from the bus and sticks, but it just wouldn't let go, the dog was just turning on them. It was a crazy, mad dog. "Eventually a man came on to the green in a pickup truck and tried to run the dog over but it didn't succeed.  The dog went berserk and started chasing the man in the truck down the road, and then the people took the chance and moved the baby away from the scene.  She added: "We heard about five shots about two hours later, which was when the dog was killed."

Another eyewitness, Oliver Davis, from Yorkshire Road, Mitcham, said, "As I was coming across the road with my two children, I saw the dog dragging the baby along the street. The men did really well to save the child. The dog was going crazy, it was going absolutely wild.  It just wanted to attack everything and everyone."

A photo of a Bull Terrier is below :

9th of June 2008 - Chloe Ashman, aged 6, fighting for life, after her family pet Staffordshire Bull Terrier rips her throat out
Little Chloe Ashman was playing in her own garden when the dog (her family pet), leaped on her and sank its teeth straight into her neck, as result, the girl of six had part of her throat ripped out in a horror attack by her family's Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Chloe Ashman below, lying lifeless in intensive care after a horrific attack by the Staffy - a Staffordshire Bull Terrier - which is sometimes referred to as the 'Nanny' dog!!!!!!!!!!

Chloe's distraught mum Stacey, 27, ran screaming into the garden, pulling at the dog before being attacked by the Bull Terrier herself.

Chloe was playing in the garden at home in Folkestone, Kent, with her two-year-old brother Samuel when the pet struck.

The mother - who also has a two-year-old son Samuel - suffered injuries in the mauling and was rushed to hospital with her daughter, where Chloe was taken into intensive care.

Chloe was critical, but in a stable condition within a couple of weeks. But she may never talk again because of the damage to her voicebox.

A family friend said: "We don't know for definite that Chloe will be OK yet. It's been touch-and-go all week. She has slept most of the time because of the trauma and extent of her injuries. They only began waking her up on Friday afternoon. The family haven't even talked about her coming home yet - the injuries to her neck are awful." The incident happened in Folkestone, Kent. The dog has since been put down by a local vet."

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I was sitting in my garden when I heard Chloe screaming. The screams made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Then I heard Stacey shouting at the dog. I think she tried to wrestle it off Chloe. Within minutes, an ambulance had arrived and took them away."

Another neighbour said: "Chloe was in a really bad way. There was blood everywhere. The dog had just clamped it's very strong jaws around Chloes neck, the staffy then shook Chloe around like a rag doll. We heard that she has had her voicebox seriously damaged and might not talk again. It's an absolute tragedy. But if it wasn't for her mum, she'd be dead now."

Kent Police said: "Both mother and child remain in hospital where they are being treated for their injuries. The dog - a Staffordshire Bull Terrier - has been put down."

The attack comes after shadow home affairs minister Andrew Rosindell claimed there are more dangerous dogs in the UK than ever before. But animal health minister Jonathan Shaw rejected the idea that the law needed reforming, saying: "New legislation is not the answer."

This month, the RSPCA said dog licences should be brought back to stop thugs using animals as weapons.

Owners would pay at least £10 for compulsory microchipping and registration unless there is a fall in the number of attacks, fights and strays, according to the charity's David Bowles.

The RSPCA warning comes amid concern at the huge rise in the number of people - especially children - who are injured or even killed by dogs.

Her father Lee, said: "The injuries have been so severe, the surgeons can’t believe my Chloe is alive."

Chloe is winning her fight for life but may never speak again because of damage to her voicebox.

Pictured below - Devoted ... Lee and Chloe Ashman before the attack by the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Lee said, "I want to make as many people as possible, aware of what these dogs can do, so this doesn’t happen to anyone else."

The mum needed stitches in her hand after trying to force the dog off. She said: "Samuel handed me a drill so I started hitting the dog with the drill. I was able to get my hand in his mouth but he just bit down again. My neighbour jumped over the fence and got the dog off. He is the hero."

Below, how a Staffordshire bull terrier (the 'Nanny' dog!!), can turn!!!!

The dog was put down. Chloe is stable after three life-saving operations at St Thomas’ Hospital in South London, but now has severe permanent damage to her voicebox.

Four breeds of dog are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act - but they don't include Staffs despite a string of recent attacks by the Staffordshire Bull Terriers!!!

2nd of June 2008 - Seven year old Charlie Faulding savaged by a Japanese Akita
Charlie Faulding, a schoolboy of just seven years old was savagely attacked by a Japanese Akita fighting dog, that left Charlie needing 40 stitches.

Mark Faulding, Charlie’s dad, when hearing his sons's screams, found his son lying motionless in a pool of blood with a growling Japanese Akita standing over him in the garden of a house in Hustler Street, Undercliffe,

Charlie Faulding was saved by his dad Mark, 36, who fought off the Japanese Akita, after his son passed out.

Mark, of Bradford, West Yorks, said: "I seriously thought he was dead. He was covered in blood and I couldn't recognise him or tell what damage was done. He was unconscious and the dog was growling inches from his face."

Now the family have taken the decision to move house because flashbacks of the heart-stopping moment, which happened only two doors away, are “too painful”.  Sarah Knowles, Charlie’s mum, said: “It has been a total nightmare. We are moving home because of what's happened. “We can’t stay here because it’s too painful. Every time my partner goes out of the back door, he sees the place where it happened and he says the feeling is awful.";

The family said they were still unhappy at West Yorkshire Police’s reaction to the incident and were considering taking the matter further with Bradford Council’s Dog Warden service.

Japanese Akita pictured below :

29th of May 2008 - Zoe Stenton’s face torn apart by a Japanese Akita-Alsatian cross
Zoe Stenton, aged 9, whose face was torn apart by a huge cross-bred Japanese fighting dog at a children’s birthday party.

The akita-alsatian mix locked its jaws around Zoe Stenton’s face - the attack left her cheek hanging off.

Zoe faced five hours of intensive surgery to piece her face and nose back together.

Neighbour Mandy Smith, 36, said: “It’s gone for me before. I’ve thought before it could do some damage.”

28th of December 2007 - Archie-Lee Hirst, aged one, savaged to death by another Rottweiler
Archie-Lee died on the 28th of December 2007 after the ten-stone Rottweiler mauled his head at the home of his grandmother Sharon in Wakefield, West Yorks.

Little Archie-Lee Hirst (pictured below with his mum Becki), was mauled to death by the Rottweiler.

His aunt, who was upstairs in the house when she was alerted to the attack, battled the dog, as it savaged the child. After failing to wrestle Archie-Lee (pictured below), from the two-and-a-half year old Rottweiler, the aunt called the emergency services.

Police handlers with poles were trying to corner the Rottweiler, but it wouldn't calm down.

Paramedics attended to the child and he was taken to nearby Pinderfields General hospital but a few hours later was pronounced dead.

Detective Superintendent Steve Payne, who led the investigation, said: "I have to pay tribute to the auntie, who attempted to rescue the child from the Rottweiler. She struck the Rottweiler a number of times, but it just wouldn't let go of the child. It was a full-size Rottweiler dog, which weighed just over 10 stone. Clearly, we're talking about very strong and powerful dogs here."

26th of December 2007 - 12 year old Laura Fearn mauled by another Rottweiler
Surgeons saved the lacerated thumb of a 12-year-old girl mauled by a Rottweiler on Boxing Day 2007. Lauren Fearn, 12, was attacked in the kitchen by the two-year-old dog, Buddy, as she fought to stop it biting her cousin Jessica Griffiths, aged eight.

26th of December 2007 - Kieran Rogers savaged by a another Japanese Akita Fighting dog, (the ones that have been used to hunt and kill bears!!!!)
Kieran Rogers, a seven year old boy was attacked by a Japanese Akita dog and as a result had very serious face and hand injuries

Kieran Rogers was with his mum Sharleen at the time of the attack near a fast food shop in Merthyr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff.

The pair had walked the short distance from their home when Kieran spotted the dog, a Japanese Akita, being held on a lead by another small boy, as they walked by the Akita, the Akita savagely attacked the nine year old.

Mum Sharleen, said: “It all happened so fast. All of a sudden the dog leapt up and started to bite my son – he didn’t have a chance to react."

“Everyone standing around tried to pull the dog off and I called an ambulance immediately.”

Kieran, a pupil at Hawthorn Junior School, suffered puncture wounds to his right arm, left hand and right cheek where the dog had bitten clean through, in the attack.

The Japanese Akita is known as a particularly powerful, very strong animal that has been bred to hunt and kill bears - but people keep them as domestic pets ! ? ! ?

Kieran was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where he spent the night and had an operation on his hand.

“Surely this animal should have been muzzled???” said Sharleen.

21st August 2007 - Six year old Sophia Kimpton savaged by two Rottweiler's
A six-year-old London girl has undergone major plastic surgery after being brutally mauled by two Rottweiler's at holiday accommodation in County Antrim.

A blood-soaked Sophia Kimpton was left screaming, caked in blood, with flesh hanging from her arms and was seconds from death on the doorstep of her holiday home as her parents fought to save her from the vicious attack.
Sophia's parents both attempted to kick the crazed dogs off before the farmer who owned the dogs shot them.

She was staying with her family at a holiday chalet near Dervock, outside Ballymoney, in County Antrim.

The little girl from London needed plastic surgery after suffering horrific injuries to her head, arms and back. She will be left with scarring.

Sophia Kimpton suffered 17 horrific injuries to her head, arms and back during the incident at Conagher self-catering chalets, on a working farm in Dervock.

Her mother fought off the dogs which were later shot by the farmer. The chalet owner refused to comment.

The Tourist Board has suspended the tourism classification of the business.

It said it was investigating the incident.

Sophia underwent plastic surgery to repair her ears at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald. She also has lacerations and puncture wounds.

Her mother, Natasha Beckett, said she thought her daughter was going to die during Tuesday's attack.

"They were attacking her like a bit of meat, eating her and biting her," she said.

"They were horrifically big. We were yelling to get them off and they were not budging. My husband was kicking one of them, I was kicking the other one off. They were just attached to her head - they were just shaking her around like a rag doll".

"I used myself as a human shield. The blood was just pouring out of her.

"They were like dogs possessed, they were like wolves. They just wanted to get to Sophia, to kill her."

"She kept saying to me: 'Mummy was I going to die?'"

Natasha said her child rolled herself onto her front, which saved her face.

She asked if the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, who approved the family accommodation, was aware that the owner kept dogs.

"This was advertised as a family home and you do not expect any dogs of that kind to be on a working farm, where there is children," she said.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board said it was shocked to learn of the attack.

9th April 2007 - Two year old Paige Allison had most of her throat ripped out by another Staffordshire bull terrier
Little Paige Allison was savaged by a crazed 'pet dog' that went for her throat.  Two year old Paige was left fighting for her life when another Staffordshire Bull Terrier went wild, ripping off an ear, some of her face and most of her throat.

The Staffordshire bull terrier mauled the little girls throat and was given a tracheotomy to help her breathe.

The toddler was attacked at a house in Borrowdale Avenue, Shadsworth, Blackburn, last month while visiting friends with her mother Katie Holt.

She was cared for by doctors at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital where she had major plastic surgery to mend her face and neck following the attack.

Her mother Katie Holt, 22, of Devon Road, Blackburn, said "It was terrifying, the Staffordshire Bull terrier had my little daughters head and throat clamped in its mouth. Paige was screaming 'mummy, mummy, mummy' as the Bull terrier tossed her around, there was blood absolutely everywhere. I started hitting the dog over the head but it wouldn't stop. It was completely out of control. I tried to pull its jaws apart and could see its teeth had cut into Paige's throat. I thought she was going to die in front of me. Eventually the dog loosened its grip and I dragged Paige into another room and locked the door. She was cut all down the side of her scalp and her ear looked like it had come off. She has had so many stitches to reattach her face and ear that we can't count them. And we don't know if she'll ever talk again. You can see the fear in her eyes as she just mouths the words 'doggy' and 'mummy'."

But, the Staffordshire bull terrier isn't  listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act and police have said nobody will be prosecuted over the incident!!!!

Little Paige Allison below, with her mother :

15th of January 2007 - Nine-year-old Jordan Gillon savaged by 3 Rottweilers

A petrified schoolboy, Jordan Gillon (pictured above), was savaged by a neighbour’s three Rottweiler's in the lounge of his own home.  The 3 Rottweiler's struck as Jordan played outdoors with the young son of the dogs’ owner Yvonne Webb in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs.

The baying hounds escaped from a property three doors away and chased nine-year-old Jordan Gillon up the driveway of his parents’ house.

They caught up with him as he ran inside and attacked before he burst into the sitting room, where his mum Michelle and stepdad Scott Amos were watching TV.

One had clamped its jaws round Jordan’s right arm, another was biting his legs and the third had its front paws on his shoulders and was trying to chew his neck.

Screaming Michelle, 33, ran for cover fearing the dogs would attack Jordan’s 18-month-old brother Alfie on her lap. But trained paramedic Scott, 35, bravely waded in with his fists and feet to force the beasts off.

Jordan had been bitten 16 times on his back, thighs, buttocks, legs and face. Bones and ligaments on his right arm were clearly visible.

Scott gave the hysterical boy First Aid and treated him for shock. But he needed nearly five hours of surgery yesterday and is due a further op tomorrow. Doctors say he will be badly scarred for life.

Mrs Webb and husband Ian were out but say they thought they had left the hounds “secured” in their kitchen.

Shaken Michelle, a nurse, said last night: “Jordan burst into the room surrounded by these three big snarling Rottweiler's. It was terrifying.” Scott said: “Jordan’s lucky to be alive.”

Mrs Webb, the owner of the three Rottweilers, said: “My dogs have never bitten anyone before.”  (Where have we heard that before?)

1st of January 2007 - 5 Year old Ellie Lawrenson killed by another pit bull terrier-type dog
Five year old Ellie Lawrenson was killed in an attack by a pit bull terrier-type dog.  Ellie Lawrenson suffered severe head and neck injuries in the attack by the family pet.

The heartbroken family of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson, savaged to death by her uncle’s dog, spoke of their "little angel".  Little Ellie was killed by the pit bull-type dog, owned by her uncle while she was staying at her grandmother’s home in Eccleston, St Helens, early on New Year's Day 2007.

The family released a statement through Merseyside police saying: "Ellie was always happy and smiling. She was a little angel, full of life and always running around. She loved her music and was a proper little girl, performing her routines and singing along to Beyonce and the X-Factor. She was always sociable, playing with other children and chatting to neighbours. We had a great Christmas together, with her little brother, Josh, who Ellie doted on and thought she was a second mother to. She was an active little girl, she loved horse-riding and was looking forward to going ice-skating for the first time in the new year. We are absolutely devastated and can't believe she is now gone."

Elle - known as Ellie - had moved with her family to Warrington from St Helens shortly after her birth on October 31st in 2001.

She had attended the nursery at Tower College, a private school in Rainhill, in January last year and had recently moved into the reception class.

Her school report said: "Ellie is a happy little girl, who mixes well with other children ....she is a popular member of her class."

Her grandmother, Jackie Simpson, was also savaged as she tried to drag the powerful dog off the little girl. She needed emergency surgery. Mrs Simpson, 46, was treated for very serious arm and leg injuries at Whiston hospital. She had emergency surgery on tendons in her arm and serious wounds to her thumb and elbow yesterday afternoon.

Neighbours described the tan pit bull-type, called Reuben, as wild and aggressive, a powerful adult male dog which many locals feared. It was shot dead by a police marksman at the scene. Officers are awaiting the outcome of a post mortem to establish its breed. Owners of pure-bred pit bull terriers are legally to blame for attacks made by their animals under the provisions of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.

The fiancé of Ellie’s other grandmother, who did not wish to be named, said: "She was just the loveliest girl you could hope to meet. We can’t deal with all this attention, we’re just in shock."

Ellie was staying with her grandmother while her mother, named by neighbours as Lyndsay, and her partner went out to celebrate New Year. When they returned to collect Ellie she asked to stay with her grandmother. The couple agreed and went home. Just forty minutes later Ellie was savaged by the dog in the living room.

Emergency services rushed to the end-of-terrace house after her grandmother shut the dog in its run and dialled 999, but Ellie was pronounced dead at the scene.

The tragedy has stunned neighbours around Knowles House Avenue, Eccleston. Locals had laid floral tributes on the green where Ellie used to play. Neighbours said the dog had been a constant menace on the estate and they had feared it would turn on someone. Mr Simpson had been warned about his dog’s dangerous behaviour before this tragic incident. St Helens council confirmed it had sent two separate warnings about the dog’s vicious behaviour to Kiel Simpson, who lives with his mother and sister Kelsey, at Knowles House Avenue. The first warning letter was sent after a neighbour complained the animal had attacked his dog. A spokesman said: "Police received a report on May 29, 2006, about the dog's behaviour, which was passed on to us at the council on May 31. A warning was sent out shortly after." But no further action was taken. There was a further reported incident from a neighbour in July regarding a complaint about the dog barking. On both occasions letters were sent to the owner about control issues."

One of the neighbours said: "The owner of the pit bull would often be heard bragging that he was the owner of an American pit bull, and that he somehow seemed pleased that the dog was a 'little crazy'. It is so sad, she was only a little girl." Other neighbours described the bull terrier as "wild".

Photos of Ellie Lawrenson below :

Do we really need more dogs like the bull terrier below ? ?  Don't children look to us adults to try to keep them as safe as possible ? ?

26th of September 2006 - Two year old child, Harvey Lawrence, pictured below, mauled by another Rottweiler

A two-year-old boy, Harvey Lawrence, received deep wounds to his face and body in the attack by a Rottweiler, at his grandmother's home in Tudor Close, Middleton-on-Sea, near Bognor.

The Rottweiler had been tethered, but lunged at Harvey and it attacked him with such force that Mrs Lawrence was unable to fight it off alone.

Neighbour Mike Pepper saved Harvey by hitting the dog repeatedly over the head with a hammer.

23rd of September 2006 - Cadey-Lee Deacon, (below), aged five months, savaged to death by Rottweilers

Five-month-old Cadey-Lee Deacon was savaged to death by two Rottweilers at the Rocket pub in Leicester. A fire escape door was left mistakenly open and allowed the family's dogs, Bruno and Bess, access to the living quarters.  The dogs then made their way to the bedroom in which baby Cadey-Lee was sleeping and then they mauled her to death.

The 2 Rottweilers killed this child in the photo above - how many more children need to die because of these dangerous dogs ! ? ! ?

We need a licence for a TV - but no licence for dogs that kill children ? ? ? ? ? ?

12th of August 2006 - Natasha Fox aged 11, savaged by dog
Natasha Fox, 11, was savaged while she rode her bicycle outside her terraced home in Toxteth, Liverpool.

Plastic surgeon Christian Duncan treated Natasha for a “very significant” thigh injury. Two years later, she was still under his care.

He said: “Natasha had a really nasty dog bite to the back of her leg, with a lot of scarring typical to dog attack injuries we routinely see. There's also usually psychological problems resulting from such a severe dog attack. People sometimes forget the impact the psychological trauma of being bitten can have."

“We have so many cases where children’s noses or ears have been bitten off and they require extensive and drawn-out reconstructive surgery. We always have a group of youngsters and their injuries can be shocking as they are often to the face. The scars are for life and they are physical and mental.”

Natasha Fox's leg below :

Natasha Fox, scarred for life in this savage dog attack will not get a penny in compensation and the family of Natasha Fox were left even more shocked when they were told the dog’s owner would not even be prosecuted!!!

Natasha needed emergency surgery and required 60 stitches when her leg was ripped open outside her Toxteth home.

She had been riding her bike in Geraint Street in August, 2006, when the dog, believed to be a pitbull or Staffordshire terrier, pounced on her.

Police arrested the owner, then 19, days later on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.

They passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which then advised the police not to press charges against him.

Mother Linda said: “The law is just a joke. He has got away with it. We are not bothered about the money, it’s the principle.  We cannot understand why the Crown Prosecution Service would not bring this attack through the courts. The dog was out of control and savaged her in a public place.  My daughter is still really self-conscious and hates wearing skirts or shorts when she plays football because of the scars."

A police spokesman said: “We arrested a 19-year-old man and a file was prepared for the CPS. The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to take the case any further ! ! !”  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority said it could not comment on individual cases.  But a spokesman said a pay-out could only be approved in a dog attack if the animal was deliberately set on the victim, had been classified under the Dangerous Dogs Act, was known to have an aggressive past or had not been controlled properly by the owner.  He said: “If any of these factors are present then we would go on to consider an application in the normal way on the basis that a crime of violence had occurred.”

21st of July 2006 - Five year old Estelle Nolan savaged by dog
Estelle Nolan (pictured below), was savaged by a dog as she played near her home.

Estelle suffered injuries to her face, ear, eye, stomach and shoulder when she was mauled by a dog in a field behind her home.

The youngster, who had a chronic fear of animals only eased when her mother Angela Hennelly bought her a kitten, was rushed to hospital with blood pouring from her face.

She needed emergency plastic surgery at Alder Hey Hospital - but her family have been told her scars will never fade completely.

Ms Hennelly said: "It was early evening and Estelle asked if she could go down to the field with her brother Edward to watch him hitting some golf balls. After what seemed like five minutes, I heard Estelle crying and shouting: 'Mummy'. I looked downstairs and she was coming towards me - but I could not see her face for all of the blood on her face. I rushed her into the bathroom to try and clean her up. She kept saying 'I'm sorry, the dog bit me'. When Edward and Estelle got to the field, they could see a gang of lads in the distance with a dog. Edward hit a golf ball and the next thing they knew, the dog came running over. It must have sensed Estelle's fear - she tried to stand behind her brother but it just pinned her down."

Estelle, who already had a chronic fear of animals was rushed to hospital with blood pouring from her face. She needed emergency plastic surgery at Alder Hey - but her family have been told her scars will never fade completely.

Ms Hennelly added: "She is OK now, because she does not really understand. She thinks the dog that bit her has gone to jail. I hope she will block it all out eventually.

"At the end of the day, it was not the dog's fault. People are training these animals to kill. In this area, they are used as fashion accessories, but they do not know what they are playing at."

The officers dealing with the case were so affected by Estelle's ordeal that they bought her presents to help her recovery.

Inspector Louise Harrison, of Merseyside police, said: "We have spoken to the family and taken statements, and we would like anyone with any more information to come forward. If anyone can help, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

18th of July 2006 - Owen Merrell, aged seven, mauled by dog
Owen Merrell, aged 7, has been left scarred for life, due to a horrific dog attack. Owen had his leg ripped open by a dog while walking home from school.

Owen needed emergency plastic surgery after being savaged by a dog as he walked home from Castle View primary school, in Runcorn's Halton Brook estate. The out-of-control animal locked its jaws around his leg and bit his chest and hip.

Owen spent three nights at Alder Hey hospital and had to walk with a walking frame afterwards.

The family of Owen Merrell are calling on home secretary Dr John Reid to change the law on dangerous dogs in a campaign backed by the RSPCA and the police.

His father Gary Merrell, of Fallow-field, Halton Brook, said: "Owen and his mum, were walking down a public pathway when the dog ran at them and leaped on him. Someone came running after it, saying it had got out. He and someone else tried to get the dog off Owen. He had bite marks on his chest and hip, and the dog's jaws had firmly locked onto Owens thigh. He's walking OK now, but it has traumatised him and he is not happy around dogs. He has been waking up early and if he hears a dog, he is worried that it is coming for him."

The government should :

* Make the microchipping of dogs mandatory, so the owners of dangerous dogs can be easily traced.

* Toughen court sentencing so anyone found guilty of possessing a dangerous dog should be banned from keeping animals for life.

* Set up a dangerous dog assessment centre in the north west, preferably Merseyside, to make it easier for problem cases to be checked out.

The government ministers say that they will consider changing legislation, if there is enough proof that the problem is a serious one.  (What more proof do the ministers need!!!!!!!!!!  How many more children need to die or get seriously scarred for life, before the ministers in our democratically elected parliaments get the proof!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

20th of June 2006 - Diane Young, savaged by two dogs
Diane Young, 44, from Speke, was returning home from a night out on the 20th of June 2006, when she was attacked by dogs being looked after by a neighbour. Every night, Diane Young wakes up with nightmares of gnashing white teeth. A look at her badly scarred arm is a stark reminder of the evening when she was savaged by two dogs.

The attack changed her life forever - the injuries to her arm and to her legs mean she can no longer wash her hair or tie her shoelaces. Vivid recurring memories have left her too frightened to go out alone.

The dogs, described as bull terriers, had to be shot by a police marksman.

Recalling the moment the dogs attacked, Ms Young, still distressed by her ordeal, said: "The dog just pulled me back and forth like a rag doll for 15 minutes. There were people stood around, but everyone who saw what happened was terrified and too scared to go near the dogs. My neighbour Donald Gray came over and started to pull the dogs off. He risked his life to save mine. I am luckily to be alive and I am very grateful."

Speaking of life since the attack, Ms Young, who now has a full-time carer, said: "It’s been terrible. I can’t go out on my own. I have even had to cancel my physiotherapy and now I am absolutely terrified of dogs. I was standing in my local shop and a woman came in with a mongrel. I was a bit wary but then a lad came in with a bull terrier in a harness and all I could think of was how could I get out of the shop. Then the other day someone came to the door with a dog and it was whining. All I could think was that it was whining because it knew I was in there and it wanted to come and get me. I just went to pieces. In my head every dog that looks at me wants to get me. It has totally ruined my life."

Ms Young, who was left-handed before the attack has now had to teach herself to use her right hand.

She has had four operations and skin grafts on her arm, and still faces more surgery. It is unlikely she will ever regain the full use of her left arm. My injuries looked like something from a horror movie. As far as I am concerned my arm is not my arm. It is disfigured and I can only move my fingers a tiny bit. My physio has been fantastic but it is not going to bring my hand back."

12th of June 2006 - Gregory Latham savaged by a Pit Bull Terrier
June 2006, a pit bull terrier attacked Gregory Latham as he returned home from a birthday night out.

The 48-year-old from Huyton suffered more than 20 bite marks to his legs, hands and chest.

28th of May 2006 - Nikkita Douglas, aged nine, savaged by another Pit Bull Terrier
The nine-year-old suffered terrible leg wounds when she was savaged near her Norris Green home on the 28th of May 2006.

Nikkita Douglas was rushed to the Alder Hey hospital for emergency treatment after being attacked by a Pitbull Terrier.

The family of nine year-old Nikkita Douglas, who was savaged by a Pit Bull Terrier near her Norris Green home, spoke of their horror at the sudden increase. Her gran Nora Kelly said “It’s very worrying, I still hear owners say, ‘it’s ok, the dog won’t bite’, but we know that’s not always the case. There’s not enough being done, I still see American pitbulls being walked around our streets even today.  “The courts need to be stricter with owners, not just give them a slap on the wrists.”

12th of January 2005 - Two year old Anna Knuckles pictured below, savagely mauled by another Japanese Akita dog

Two year old Anna Knuckles was savaged by another Japanese Akita dog in Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Despite the toddler needing 100 stitches in her head and face, the police said they were powerless as the attack had not taken place in a public place, as the child was visiting a neighbour with her dad.

Anna's dad, Ken, said "with the help of a workman that happened to be at the scene, I managed to get Anna away from the crazed Akita hunting dog, but Anna was unrecognisable through the torn scalp and blood. If the workman had not have been there, she wouldn't have stood a chance."  Without that help Mr Knuckles said he would not have been able to pull the dog off his daughter.

"He'd already systematically eaten through the skull and the ear and my daughter was very quite and then screamed and started losing consciousness.".

Anna's ear was torn, her jaw muscles damaged, and her skull compressed and split open. There were holes in her skull where the dog had bitten her.

Mr Knuckles described the attack as a "horrifying experience".

"All of a sudden there was a pounce and it was on her that quick. I looked down and I couldn't see my daughter just the dog eating," he said.

Anna underwent extensive surgery for her injuries including her ear being torn, her jaw muscles damaged, and her skull compressed and split open.

She has since made a good recovery but still suffers from a phobia of dogs and her father said they have had to live with the fear every day of having the dog living next door.

A complaint was made to Dyfed-Powys Police, but officers were unable to do anything about it because legislation only covers attacks in a public place, and this happened in a private house.

The Akita is not among the UK's banned dog breeds and the father said they were taking civil action against their neighbour because they felt someone should be held responsible.

Solicitor Mike Imperato said they are waiting for a final psychiatric assessment on Anna before they issue proceedings but he said damages could be worth up to £20,000.

Mr Imperato said the Akita was "quite clearly a very strong, large, aggressive dangerous dog".

"The dog should have been restrained, it should have been kept away. We're saying it wasn't. The dog then attacked the child with no provocation whatsoever."

The Japanese hunting dog, or Japanese Akita, was originally used to hunt, bring down and kill bears in the Japanese forests, and is regarded among dog experts as being prone to unpredictable behaviour.  “The question that usually occurs to most people is, does anyone really need a dog that has been specifically bred and trained to kill a bear?"

“Despite all the coverage last year on similar cases, including the one on Anna Knuckles from Carmarthen, nothing has been done at all to get these dangerous dogs off the street and to keep them away from children.

“This is an increasingly prevalent problem and the Government seems to do absolutely nothing about it.

“I don’t know why someone in the UK would want a bear-hunting dog and I feel strongly that the Government should add them to the list of banned breeds.

"Surely a dog that is bred to hunt, and is known to have a vicious temperament, whose owners even admit they are hard to train, should not be allowed as a pet."

Japanese Akitas are prized for their ability to hunt and kill bears, so what on earth are they doing as domestic pets!!!!!!!!!!

27th of July 2002 - Connor Jones savaged by Bull Mastiff
Connor Jones, aged 6 was viciously attacked by a Bull Mastiff on July 27 2002, which resulted Connor receiving serious head injuries.

22nd of June 2000 - School playground attack by an English Bull Terrier
The attack took place at Maerdy infants school on the 22nd of June 2000, where an English bull terrier attacked children in a south Wales school playground - the English Bull Terrier was later put down.

A six-year-old girl is recovering in hospital after she and three other children were attacked by the dog at lunchtime on Wednesday at Maerdy school.

Mike Power below, who needed 13 stitches as a result of being bitten by the English Bull Terrier:

A total of four children and a school dinner lady were injured during the incident at the 144-pupil Maerdy Infants School in the Rhondda.

Six year old Tara Smith had hospital surgery to her ear as a result of the bite.

Six-year-old Mike Power was playing football with his friends in the school yard when the dog attacked.

He was taken to hospital and had 13 stitches above his eye and was also bitten on his elbow and the top of his leg.

School head teacher Gwyneth Maliphant said the bull terrier got into the yard where the over-fives were being supervised, and started to bite the children - it was dreadful.

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Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits four types of dog:

1. The Pit Bull Terrier
2. The Japanese Tosa
3. The Dogo Argentino
4. The Fila Brasileiro

It is an offence to own or keep any of these types of dog. In addition it is an offence to breed from, sell or exchange (even as a gift) such a dog.

It is important to note that, in the UK, dangerous dogs are classified by “type”, not by breed label. This means that whether a dog is considered dangerous, and therefore prohibited, will depend on a judgment about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited ‘type’. The assessment of the physical characteristics is made by a court.

But just because these four dogs have been officially declared 'Dangerous Dogs' it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the most dangerous.

Top 10 dogs for causing serious harm to children :
1. Staffordshire Bull Terriers
2. Rottweilers
3. Japanese Akitas
4. German Shepherds (Alsatians)
5. Pit Bull Terriers
6. Bullmastiffs
7. Huskies
8. English Bull Terriers
9. Doberman Pinschers
10. American Bulldogs

So what is that makes a dog dangerous?  Every year over 4,000 people in the UK are attacked by a dog, what is it that turns a dog from a loving family pet into a violent, bloodthirsty animal?  If we were talking about humans here we would probably say it’s in the genes and blame the parents.

This theory is backed up by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is why four specific named breeds are prohibited under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.

They are implying that these dogs are violent by nature and nothing is going to change them. Rottweilers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are not banned, but they have a very bad reputation, especially with children, which hasn’t been helped by recent spates of attacks.

Looking for a list of banned dogs in the UK ?  Or, perhaps a list of dangerous dogs in the UK ?  Well, it all depends on how you view that terminology!! The list of banned dogs in the UK are listed in the dangerous dogs act of 1991, BUT, as you can see from this page, there's many dogs that are causing children severe harm, even to die, BUT, those dogs are not listed in the dangerous dogs act!!!!!

The dangerous dogs act of 1991
The 4 dogs on the list of banned dogs under the dangerous dogs act of 1991, (amended 1997) are American Pit Bull Terriers, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brazilieros and Japanese Tosas.

For anyone not sure of what the 'official' dangerous dogs look like, here they are :

American Pit Bull Terriers :

Dogo Argentinas :

Fila Brazilieros :

Japanese Tosas :

The dangerous dogs act in the UK dated 1991, (which includes the amendment of 1997), needs changing, because under the current legislation of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, the owners of dangerous dogs who commit these offences, face fines of up to £5,000 and up to two years in jail - if an attack occurs on public land or a place where the dog should not have been in the first place.  But the only 4 dogs on the dangerous dogs list are American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Braziliero and Japanese Tosa - why just these 4 dogs ?

The other dogs that are usually the ones to cause the most damage to young children apart from American Pit Bull Terriers, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brazilieros and Japanese Tosas are Rottweilers, Alsatians (German sheep dogs), Dobermans, Bull Mastiffs, Japanese Akitas, English Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers - so why isn't there at least some sort of plan for dealing with these types of dogs as well ?

Official studies point out that the breeds of Alsatians (German Shepherds), Dobermans, Rottweilers, Pitbull terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers were 17 times more likely to bite and cause severe harm to children, compared to other breeds such as a Labrador retriever, Spaniel or mixed-breed dog.

Responsible ownership
The law should also be looking into proper controls of breeding and selling of dogs, training and education for owners, and a full registration scheme to enable the tracking of dogs and their owners. There needs to be education for all potential dog owners so they are fully aware of their responsibility as a dog owner before they become one, and continuing education and training to ensure that owners understand such things as the importance of training and socialisation.

All dogs bite ! ! !
When discussing with someone, the issue of dangerous dogs in the UK, you will usually hear the common, often repeated phrase - "All dogs bite, not just the dangerous dogs" - exactly, all dogs bite, but if you were given the choice of being bitten by a Chihuahua or a Rottweiler - you would obviously choose the Chihuahua - the reason is that one is much stronger than the other and so the bite will be a lot more powerful with the stronger dogs like Rottweilers, Alsatians, Dobermans, American Pit Bull Terriers, Bull Mastiffs, English Bull Terriers, Japanese Akitas and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. The average dog's mouth exerts 150 to 180 pounds of pressure per square inch and some dogs can apply up to 450 pounds, but in recent studies, an expert testified that the biting power of a German Shepherd is usually 900 to 1,200 lbs. per square inch, a Rottweiler is 1,700 to 1,800 lbs. per square inch, and the pit bull has the most powerful bite at 2,400 to 2,500 lbs. per square inch. In comparison, it takes just 4 lbs of pressure per square inch to break a human's finger.

In most of the emails received on the subject of dangerous dogs, one of the most repeating sentences (usually from someone who would incur a financial loss, if some these breeds of dogs disappeared, i.e. dog breeders of particular breeds for example), goes something like this "All dogs can bite, why are you only picking on Rottweilers, Alsatians, Dobermans, American Pit Bull Terriers, Bull Mastiffs, English Bull Terriers, Japanese Akitas and Staffordshire Bull Terriers etc, etc?"  The answers always a very simple one - "When was the last time you heard of a Border Collie or Jack Russell killing a little child??"

The RSPCA, widely recognised as experts on the dangers of dogs are very clear on the dangers of particular dogs. As the RSPCA's official spokesman, Mark Evans, has stated. "A smaller dog can be just as aggressive, but there is less chance of it being a life-threatening attack."

The RSPCA's Chief Veterinary Officer Chris Lawrence said these breeds can pose a serious danger to the public. "What we have here, are dogs which are potentially really nasty and really vicious."  The police are urging the government to tackle the problem. "Also, prosecutors need to be much more flexible and creative, and there's no reason to be fixated purely on the Dangerous Dogs act when dealing with such cases."

Don't we owe it to children to help stop any more of them having serious injuries or even dying because of a dog, don't we ? ? ?

If you see any dangerous looking dogs, that perhaps shouldn't be in the UK or perhaps are not muzzled, call the RSPCA on 08705 555 999 to report it.

An excellent website, giving details on potential dangers when mixing children with dogs, is on the link below :
Helping to prevent children's accidents within the home and elsewhere - DangerSpot Books

At the moment, there's still quite a lot of prohibited dogs in the UK and/or dangerous dogs in the UK, but the more we inform others about this serious problem, the more it will hopefully help.

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Most people actually DO want to do something to help stop these attacks on children by dogs. Many people are now questioning the laws surrounding dog control after many, many attacks by dogs on kids and are communicating with their local MP's, newspapers, radio etc, etc. Please, if you value childrens lives, do something about this needless waste and harm of young lives. * * Please tell as many people as possible about this problem, pointing them to this page if you wish, also, if you have a website and would like to let your visitors know about this serious problem, with 'family' pets causing so much harm to young children, just click on the link below :
Action to help prevent more dog attacks on children.