Dog Bite Injuries Needing Hospital Treatment Increase By 50% Since 2012
The number of people needing to go to hospital for dog bites has risen by 50 per cent since 2012.
A study, published in the Irish Medical Journal, found 3,158 people were admitted for hospital treatment between 2012 and 2022 as a result of a dog attack.
The majority of people sustained open wounds, and 24%were facial wounds.
Sinn Fein Councillor for Waterford City and County Council, John Hearne, says local authorities don't have the resources they need to enforce responsible dog ownership.
"We need a complete review of animal welfare, all animal welfare in Ireland. Dog control is just not taken seriously by the local authorities.
"They give a token warden, who do trojan work for what they can do, but they're not financed.
"We don't have enough of them and there is no enforcement. And I don't think we should leave it to local authorities to do it.
"We need a national body to enforce it, whether it's a local guard and the Garda barracks, that's just specifically, you know, takes on these roles."
