Woman injured in Mexborough dog attack

The incident happened in her home at Mexborough last Thursday (19) – when her children were present.

South Yorkshire Police warned that in-depth checks and “responsible rehoming” can be the difference between life and death.

Dog legislation officer PC Paul Jameson said: “If you’re looking to get a new dog, please consider rehoming from a reputable centre or a genuine seller.

“You are more likely to be bitten or injured by a dog you know, either in your own home, or that of a family member or friend.

“We are seeing more and more incidents of dogs injuring people. The woman injured last week was bitten by an English bull terrier she rehomed a few weeks before from an online site.”

The dog caused serious injury to the woman’s hand and was taken away by police.

PC Jameson added: “Sellers online are not always honest about a dog’s history and behaviour and do not have yours or your family’s best interests at heart, which can have devastating, even fatal, consequences.

“When rehoming from a centre, the dogs have undergone assessments to understand their characteristics and a decision will have been made based on the dog’s actions and reactions as to whether the dog can live with children.”

Advice for buyers includes obtaining as much information as possible about a dog’s history, seeing it in its home environment, and asking questions of the seller about what age children the animal has been around.