Nine-year-old boy mauled in second dog attack in same city in one …
A nine-year-old boy has suffered a serious injury after being mauled in a second dog attack[1] in Worcester in just one day.
Police raced to a home in the city at around 5pm yesterday and seized the animal, which is currently being held in kennels.
The boy was rushed to hospital by his family, where he is being treated for a serious leg injury.
It came just hours after a 68-year-old woman was left with life-changing injuries[2] in a separate incident at another property in the city.
A West Mercia Police[3] spokeswoman said: "Yesterday morning we reported that a 68-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man had been injured by a family pet at a home in Boughton Avenue in Worcester.
Woman, 68, seriously injured and two others hurt after being savaged by a dog[4]
It came just hours after a woman was mauled by her family dog at a separate home (pictured) in Worcester (
Worcester News / SWNS)
"We’re shocked and saddened to say that a second, unconnected, incident happened later the same day when a 9-year-old boy suffered a serious leg injury caused by a dog at a private address in Portefields Road in the city.
"Officers were called to the incident shortly before 5pm yesterday. The child was taken to hospital by his family where he is being treated. The dog was recovered by officers and is secured in kennels."
Earlier in the day, emergency services had been called to reports of another dog attacking occupants of a house on Boughton Avenue.
That dog was found dead by police on arrival, and officers administered first aid to two victims before rushing them to hospital.
A 68-year-old woman is being treated for life-changing injuries while a 38-year-old man has serious injuries.
A force spokeswoman told the Mirror: "We can confirm that the dog died during the incident when the family were trying to stop it from harming the individuals and in prevention of it causing any more injury."
In connection to the first incident, neighbours told how they heard shouting before seeing a man leaving the property with a hammer in his hand.
Officers at the scene of the first dog attack on Boughton Avenue (
Worcester News / SWNS)
One local said: "I heard shouting at about 8.30am, then it went quiet and then it started again.
"I heard the noise and looked up and down the road and no police cars were there. I then saw a man leave the house and he had a hammer in his hand and when police arrived he sat on the floor in relief.
"There were around 10 police cars an ambulance, air ambulance and a black unmarked car which had two police officers come out of it with guns."
Another added: "It is shocking and frightening that something like that has happened."
The force's superintendent, Rebecca Love, urged anyone who is concerned about their dog's behaviour to contact their local vet for advice.
She said: “Both of these incidents will have been incredibly traumatic for the families involved and we are wishing all three people injured a safe and quick recovery.
“A formal process with a qualified vet has to be followed to establish the breed of dogs involved and that work is underway.
“Nobody expects a loved family pet to turn aggressive and injure their owner, or anyone else, but it’s important to remember that any dog can bite. If you are worried about your dog’s behaviour, we encourage you to contact your local vet for advice and support.
"If you are genuinely concerned that a dog is dangerously out of control, has bitten a person or another animal or is likely to do so, then you can contact us.”
References
- ^ dog attack (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ was left with life-changing injuries (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ West Mercia Police (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Woman, 68, seriously injured and two others hurt after being savaged by a dog (www.mirror.co.uk)