In total, 48 people across England and Wales died after being bitten or struck by a dog between 2019 and 2024, according to data obtained by The i Paper.
Dog attacks remain rare and there is often no single reason behind them.
The rise could be in part down to the fact more people own dogs, but also the popularity of XL bullies – a breed linked to violent attacks on humans. Experts also said criminal gangs breeding dangerous dogs for profit and under-prepared owners who bought pets during the pandemic may have contributed to the attacks.
The second highest number of dog-related fatalities took place in the South West and Wales, with seven deaths in each region from 2019 to 2024. There were six deaths in the West Midlands.
It is unclear why the North West has had the highest number of fatal attacks.
Dr Candy d’Sa, an animal behaviour consultant and expert in animal law, previously told The i Paper that XL Bullies had gained popularity because of a general trend towards owning larger dogs.
Some argue that XL Bully’s should not have been banned, despite the breed being linked to a number of violent attacks. (Photo: Krisztian Elek/Getty Images)
The crackdown on XL Bullies – the breed was banned in February 2024 following a spate of violent attacks on people, including young children – may be behind the drop in fatalities after 2022, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Chief Constable Mark Hobrough of the NPCC said: “Undoubtedly the ban and our response to it has driven down the number of dog attacks and we are pleased that the public continues to support us by reporting suspected XL Bully dogs in their local area.”
Hobrough highlighted the need for “responsible dog ownership”, adding: “People need to be aware of the types of dogs that they’re bringing into their homes and make the right decisions to choose a breed which suits their lifestyle, environment and experience.”
Rick Berry, a public policy researcher of dog-related issues, said unprepared dog owners who bought their pets during the pandemic could be partly responsible for attacks, as well as poor breeding practices.
“Added to that, the higher demand for dogs may have led to a surge in poor breeding practices. It is quite possible we have been seeing the effects of this now in the dog attack statistics.”
In 2022 – when there was a rise in the number of fatalities – Ian Briggs, acting head of the RSPCA’s special operations unit, told The Mirror: “There are criminal gangs involved – certainly around the Bully XL market – that have obviously seen a way of coining in a huge amount of cash.
“If you are looking at between £2,000 to £5,000 for a puppy and you get four puppies out of a dog, it’s a lot of money. They are making hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
Fatal dog attacks – by region
North West – 13 South West – 7 Wales – 7 West Midlands – 6 South East – 5 East Midlands – 3 North East – 2 Yorkshire and the Humber – 2 London – 2 East of England – 1A spokesperson for the charity said: “Around a third of all UK households now own a dog, and most dogs live harmoniously with their families without incident.
“However, the increase also could be down to dogs not being able to access socialisation and training opportunities at critical stages of development during the pandemic.”
The charity is calling for dog control laws to be replaced with one consolidated law that allows for early intervention for dangerous dogs. It would focus on the prevention of dog bite incidents and include measures that deter and punish owners of dangerous dogs.
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