SOUTH Yorkshire Police has said they have seen an ‘unprecedented’ demand on the force following further reports of dangerous dogs in Barnsley.

Officers say they see five reports on average each day for out-of-control dogs across the county.

At the weekend, they received 32.

Of those received, officers attended two incidents that led to serious injuries, with the 999 calls made within 20 minutes of each other.

On Sunday at 7.22pm, officers responded to reports of a dog bite in Goldthorpe.

Upon arrival it’s believed that an English bulldog attacked its owner and caused serious injuries to her hands and arms, leaving her requiring constructive surgery.

The woman, who lost consciousness, was taken to hospital by ambulance and her dog was seized.

Officers then travelled to Doncaster.

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Chief Inspector Emma Cheney, leading the work on dangerous dogs, said: “We’re continuing to see incidents of dangerous dogs across South Yorkshire and during 2024, we have seized over 500 dogs for various reasons.

“Our priority is to protect the public, and innocent members of our communities.

“Last week we sadly saw a two-year-old girl mauled by a loose dog - this is not acceptable and irresponsible ownership will be dealt with by the courts.

“Every time we attend an incident, it comes at a cost, including the resources responding and kennelling, as well as the additional pressure on the ambulance service and hospitals caring for those injured.

“Owners must take action.

“If you own a dog, be a responsible dog owner and protect yourself, your family and those living near to you.”