Senior doctor calls for caution over dogs

Dr Paul Baylis, Western Trust Consultant in Emergency Medicine, issued the appeal to both dog owners and to the wider public in light of a recent high profile incident where a child was bitten by a dog in the Londonderry area.

In the period between 1 January and 31 August this year, a total of 101 attendances of people of all ages have been recorded at the Western Trust's Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at Altnagelvin Hospital as a result of incidents involving dogs.

Dr Baylis said: "I wish the child attacked recently by a dog in Londonderry a speedy recovery.

"As a consultant in A&E I have seen a range of injuries resulting from dogs biting people from minor injuries to very serious incidents where children have sustained serious facial injuries.

"I would appeal to all owners of dogs to ensure they are kept under control at all times. I would also urge all parents to be mindful that dogs can be dangerous and they should check with a dog owner before letting their child touch a dog.

"Adults also need to be aware that dogs which may be normally mild-mannered can become aggressive and bite. It is better to be cautious when interacting with these animals.

"I hope through this appeal that we will be able to drive home the injury prevention message and reduce the number of such incidents which result in people needing medical attention."