Doncaster woman seriously injured in dog attack in own home by English Bull Terrier advertised for free online

A woman was seriously injured by a dog she took in after seeing it advertised for free online.

The Doncaster mother suffered serious injuries at her home in Mexborough on October 19.

Police officers say her two children were present when the dog, an English Bull Terrier which she got for free after seeing an advert online, bit her hand.

The dog attack prompted her to take her children and leave the house.

Dog legislation officer PC Paul Jameson, of South Yorkshire Police, said the woman then disowned the dog and police removed it from the property.

He 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."

South Yorkshire Police are now highlighting the case to urge potential pet owners to avoid buying or rehoming dogs from online or social media adverts.

It comes after a spike in dangerous dog cases in 2023.

In June, four children - the youngest aged two - were attacked over the space of one weekend in September by their 'family dogs' in South Yorkshire. In the first six months of 2023, five people were charged or summonsed to appear in court in relation to having a dog dangerously out of control.

Meanwhile, a total of 148 dogs were put down by the force in 2022, more than the previous three years combined.

PC Jameson said: "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 whether the dog can live with children, including younger ones."

People have a duty of care and anyone who knowingly sells a dog that is dangerous or has history of causing fear or injury will be fully investigated.

Officers will check the history of any dog that comes to their attention and has been bought as a result of social media post or advert. If a dog is found to have been sold on social media or online without an honest description, the seller should expect to be investigated by police.

PC Jameson said: "If you are going to purchase a dog off the internet or social media please try and obtain as much information about the dog and its history as possible.

"If the seller wants to meet in a separate meeting place to the dog’s home, I would be extremely wary. It is important to see a dog in its home environment where it feels comfortable and safe to act in a true manner.

"Remember to ask questions around the age of children the dog has been in contact with, the behaviours it displays when people enter its home, and when out walking."

Anyone with information about irreputable dog sellers can contact SYP online, via live chat or by calling 101.