AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into two separate dog attacks involving an elderly woman and a child in Co Clare.
The shocking incidents were both reported in Newmarket-on-Fergus on Monday, June 23.
The first incident involved an elderly woman who was reportedly bit by a German Shepherd.
Talking on Clare FM, County council dog warden Frankie Coote stated that the victim suffered multiple bites in the attack.
She had to be brought to the nearby hospital for treatment and may require surgery for her injuries.
In a separate incident, a German Shepherd, which was on a lead and wearing a muzzle, left a young girl injured.
Mr Coote said the dog’s muzzle fell off when it “launched at the young girl”.
It is believed that the attack involved a different dog from the incident involving the elderly woman.
A spokesperson for Clare County Council told the Irish Sun: “The Dog Control Service received a complaint on Monday relating to a lady being attacked by a dog in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare.
“This matter is currently under investigation by the Dog Warden with the assistance of An Garda Síochána.
“Separately, another complaint was received last Monday relating to a child being bitten by a dog in Newmarket-on-Fergus. This matter is also under investigation by the Dog Warden.”
Earlier this week, the HSE released shocking statistics on the number of people treated in hospitals for dog bites, which has increased year on year.
A total of 488 people had medical attention in Irish hospitals after dog attacks last year, compared to 343 treated in 2023.
The HSE said each patient’s injuries were recorded on their hospital in-patient or day care discharge sheet.
The 145 increase in patients suffering dog attack injuries comes as the Government brought in new laws banning devil dogs in February this year.
XL BULLY BAN
No one is allowed to keep a XL bully type pit bull terrier without an exemption certificate from their local authority.
The move to regulate the dangerous dogs came after a rise in dog attacks nationwide which culminated in the horrific death of Nicola Morey, 23, in June last year.
She was attacked and mauled to death by her own pit bull dogs at her Limerick home causing grave shock nationwide.
In a second serious incident a nine-year-old boy, Alejandro Mizsan, had his face severely damaged after being attacked by a devil dog which was let off its lead by its owner.
The child had been out playing on the street with other kids in the Forgelands housing estate, Enniscorthy, Wexford and had to undergo facial surgery.
The dog’s owners Niall Byrne and Karen Millar were both subsequently jailed on various charges over the incident.
The Government hopes the new pit bull ban will reduce the number of dog attacks nationwide.
Two separate incidents involving an elderly woman and a child were attacked by a German Shepherd[/caption]
