THE number of people treated in hospitals for dog bites has increased year on year, new figures from the HSE reveal.
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.
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 9 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.
A source said: “It is very early days yet but if we get these pit bulls under control and off the streets there should be a long-term reduction in the number of attacks.
“There will also be other dogs out there who for whatever reason just turn vicious and attack people.”
The HSE has no data yet for people treated for dog bites in 2025.
DOG ATTACK IN MEATH
However, only a fortnight ago, a woman was attacked by a pit bull while out walking her pet dog in Navan, Co Meath, and her dog was killed by the brute.
She had to be taken to hospital with her injuries which were not life threatening.
Last year, the local authorities across Ireland said 442 people formally reported dog attack incidents to them for the whole of 2023.
The data for 2024 will not be released until next October.
