Sam Gaines: Last News

RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Sam Gaines said: "It's really worrying to see the increase in dog bites in the last 20 years but, sadly, it doesn't surprise us. "We fear that these incidents could continue to rise following the boom in dog ownership during lockdown, coupled with a generation of dogs who missed out on vital training and socialisation due to lockdown restrictions, and due to a general lack of understanding around dog behaviour and why dogs bite."If the North West and North East are at one end of the scale, five London boroughs and the Isle of Wight are at the other as none tally as many as four dog attacks annually.

A report from the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association has found that dog attacks are increasing quickly across the UK, with a rise of 54 per cent occurring between 2020 and 2021.

Covid lockdowns, according to an expert. Since the virus struck, nearly 3.2 million households have adopted a puppy, but social distancing and increased indoor time means some dogs' social skills are underdeveloped, it is argued.RSPCA dog specialist Dr Sam Gaines believes the boom has led to a false sense of security with some people naive to how much work is needed to raise a dog and the risks of certain breeds in certain environments, the Mirror reported.It comes after a two-year-old was killed last week in Worcester following a dog attack - reportedly involving a Rottweiler - and another eight-year-old boy needed hospital treatment after being bitten on the face.ONS figures show that the 10 years up to 1991, a total of 15 people died following dog attacks.But in the last decade that number has more than doubled to 32.Dr Gaines warned there are no safe breeds and the RSPCA is "really concerned" about the current situation.

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