Dog-Related Injuries on the Rise in England

The number of people taken to hospitals for dog-related injuries has increased in England. According to the UK National Health Service, roughly 8,000 people in the country were hospitalized for dog bites and other dog-related injuries between 2017 and 2018. This figure is a 7% increase from the previous year, in which the number of recorded cases was just less than 7,500. Some of these injuries were minor, while others were more serious. The Royal College of Surgeons presume that the increase may be due to two factors. One is the possibility that people now take dog bites more seriously. Once bitten, people immediately go to a medical professional to have the bite checked. Another is the fact that smaller dog breeds, such as the French Bulldog, have become more popular as pets in England. The Royal College of Surgeons explained that owners tend to overlook the ability of smaller dog breeds to cause injury. When this happens, pet owners may not take precaution when interacting with their pets and later on pay the price by getting injured. To prevent more cases of dog-related injuries, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals released an infographic on dogs’ body language. It includes warning signs of a dog’s incoming attack, such as the dog showing its teeth, tucking its tail between its legs, and growling. Additionally, a professor from the University of Liverpool advised people planning to own dogs to choose their pets carefully. This can be done through buying dogs only from trustworthy breeders and getting acquainted with the dog before they take it home.