A manhunt is underway to find a dog owner after a woman was attacked by a ‘bull-type’ hound while walking one evening.
The horror unfolded while the woman was out in Leas near Trow Quarry carpark, in South Shields, when a ‘tan and white’ dog sunk its teeth into her leg.
Despite the woman clearly being left injured, the man and his dog are said to have taken off on foot.
The victim, in her 40s, has been forced to get hospital treatment twice since the attack on December 1.
Northumbria Police are now urgently trying to find the dog owner, who is described as a man in his 50s.
The force said in a statement: ‘Can you help? We’re appealing for information after a woman was injured by a dog in #SouthShields.
‘Between 5pm and 5.30pm on Sunday, December 1, 2024, it was reported a woman had been walking at the Leas, near to Trow Quarry car park.
‘A dog, believed to be a tan and white Bull Dog type breed, which was wearing a black harness and no lead has then approached the female victim and bitten her leg. A man, who was in the company of the dog, has then left the area on foot.
Police say ‘a number of enquiries’ have been carried out since the report was first made to identify the dog (file image)
‘The woman – aged in her 40s – sustained puncture wounds which have required treatment at hospital on two occasions. A number of enquiries have been carried out since the report was first made to identify the dog, who was in the company of a man believed to be in his 50s.
‘The incident happened on a dark evening, so we’re keen to hear from witnesses and the dog owner. Any info? Send us a DM, or use live chat and report forms on our website. Otherwise, please call 101. Quote crime ref: 142205J/24.’
The news follows data from November 2024 revealing at least 16 dogs were being seized every day in the UK as experts warned bans on dangerous breeds may not be the way to solve the maulings epidemic.
Since November 2023 just under 6,000 dangerous dogs had been seized by 27 forces up to that point, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request found, meaning 114 dogs were taken every week.
Of the forces which responded to the FOI, Greater Manchester was found to have the highest figures, with 19 dogs seized a week.
A spokesman 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.
The Government brought in the ban on XL Bullies in January 2024 after they were blamed for maulings which had led to at least 11 deaths since 2021. Those killed ranged from 17 months to 84 years of age.
In May, an expert warned the UK would ‘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.