Man arrested and dogs seized after two attacks

A man has been arrested and three dogs seized after a police officer and a council worker were bitten in Barnsley.

South Yorkshire Police said both the officer and worker had to receive treatment after they suffered injuries to their arms and buttocks in the attack at a property in the town on Wednesday afternoon.

The 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of owning a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury and assaulting an emergency service worker. He has since been released on police bail while enquiries continue.

The dogs, all believed to be Dobermans, were seized and taken to police kennels.

Officers were called at about 15:30 BST to reports the council worker had been bitten while attending the property, the force said.

When police arrived at the scene, the dogs' owner failed to control them and they attacked one of the officers after escaping from the property, a spokesperson claimed.

The force has warned owners they "will be held accountable for their actions" if their dogs are not controlled properly of if the animals are used "as a weapon", following a series of incidents elsewhere in the country.

A baby, a teenager, and an elderly woman were all killed after being bitten by dogs in the past week, a spokesperson said.

"We cannot become complacent.

"All owners need to step up."

Ch Insp Jon Greaves said the force tried to safeguard communities from the threat and fear posed by dogs but educating owners alone was not enough.

"People also need to act," he said.

Greaves has said police will assess the danger of every dog-related incident reported to the force. If a dog is thought to be dangerous, it will be taken away until they decide on the next course of action.

"Seizing a dog is not a decision we take lightly but people's safety comes first," he said.

He said people needing help with their dog and its behaviour could get free support and advice from the Blue Cross and Dogs Trust charities.

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