The owner of an American Bulldog who was abused by his own pet included 13 dog attacks reported to the police force in 48 hours.
The mutt left its owner a bloody mess after she stepped in to separate the pooch and the pocket bully inside the house.
He was taken to hospital after suffering cuts and deep cuts to his face, neck and head in the vicious attack on Thursday evening in Sheffield.
The bulldog was caught by officers and is currently being held in a police kennel.
In the spate of dangerous dog attacks, XL Bully let loose prowled and jumped up on a young mother walking home with a young baby in a carrier, leaving her fearing for the safety of her child.
A grandmother and her grandson were also attacked by another loose hound in the city, prompting South Yorkshire Police to issue a stark warning that people will die unless they have a dog ‘up’.
It comes days after 10-year-old Savannah Bentham was killed by her pet XL Bully, who North Yorkshire Police said she had a close and loving relationship with.
American Bulldog owner abused by own pet (pictured as stock image of American Bulldog) prompts police to warn ‘people will die’ unless pet owner ‘steps up’
Mauling left him with bloody wounds after he stepped in to separate the mutt from the pocket bully
He was taken to hospital after suffering deep cuts to his face, neck and head in the vicious attack on Thursday evening in Sheffield.
Chief Inspector Emma Cheney, who leads the work on dangerous dogs in South Yorkshire, said: “Recently we are saddened to see another fatal incident in the UK involving dogs causing death.
‘People think it won’t happen, that the dog won’t cause any harm, but it could happen to someone else.
‘Any dog can cause fear and harm and an owner who does not step up and prevent harm to our community will not be tolerated.’
Speaking directly to the owner, he added: ‘You are responsible for your dog’s actions, and we continue to put people in court.’
The police force bemoaned the financial costs and resources that are incurred for each response to dog attacks saying it takes officers ‘away from other calls’.
As well as having to contract kennel personnel to transport and house mutts, they also have to carry out security checks and investigate criminal aspects to ‘ensure justice is served’.
This is the shocking moment a man was mauled by a pair of dogs after they reportedly ran into the street.
A local saw the dog and put one of them on a lead. As the man tried to remove the lead from one of the dog’s legs, the other jumped forward
The footage shows the man trying to run away, but he falls to the floor as others try to remove the dog.
The victim, aged 47, suffered deep cuts and bruises on his body and was taken to hospital by ambulance, requiring surgery.
A spokesman for the force added: ‘Apart from the source of the investigation, the dog seized at the time of the incident must be cared for and kenneled until a decision is made.’
CI Cheney continued: ‘We only have a limited amount of resources, attending dangerous dog incidents takes officers away from other calls. If every owner steps up and makes a small change, we can make a difference.’
Last month, horrifying footage was made public of a man being mauled by a pair of dogs after they reportedly ran into the street.
A man and a woman, aged 14, were attacked in Dagenam Crescent in Sheffield on September 29.
The two dogs, believed to be a Mastiff and a Cane Corso, are believed to have escaped from the property in the street.
The victim, aged 47, suffered deep cuts and bruises on his body and was taken to hospital by ambulance, requiring surgery.
The second victim, aged 14, suffered minor injuries as he tried to intervene.
Mourners have left tributes and flowers for ten-year-old Savannah Bentham who was mauled to death by XL Bully.
People leave floral tributes to boy after he was mauled by dog ’XL Bully’
In a series of dangerous dog attacks, XL Bully (stock image) got loose and jumped on a young mother walking home with a young baby in the car.
Savannah was killed by a pet dog earlier this month after being attacked by the pet at her home in Malton, Yorkshire.
Traumatic scenes – which saw the girl’s mother running outside screaming ‘my baby is dead’ – unfold in the sleepy Yorkshire village after Savannah reportedly boasted to friends: ‘I’ve got a new pet – bully XL’.
In a statement through North Yorkshire Police, Savannah’s family said they were ‘very shocked’ and ‘devastated’, adding: ‘We cannot believe we have lost our wonderful girl who we love so much.’
He continued: ‘We thank everyone for their support and kindness as we struggle to come to terms with our loss. We ask that our family’s privacy be respected as we grieve for Savannah.’
The family live in a static caravan in a compound behind a shop in East Heslerton, North Yorkshire.
North Yorkshire Police said the girl had a close and loving relationship with the dog that killed her. Troops say the mutt will be put down.
