Doncaster toddler suffers facial injuries in dog attack

The incident happened in Bentley near Doncaster, on Sunday evening

A two-year-old girl suffered facial injuries after being attacked by the family dog in South Yorkshire.

The incident happened in Bentley near Doncaster just after 22:20 BST on Sunday, police said.

The youngster was treated in hospital for injuries which were not thought to be life-threatening. The pet dog was seized by officers.

South Yorkshire Police (SYP) said it had dealt with 14 incidents involving out of control dogs at the weekend.

These included a man in Sheffield and a woman in Rotherham who both required surgery, following attacks by their own dogs in their homes.

The force has appealed to dog owners to keep pets in control after revealing it seized more than 300 dogs in the first four months of the year.

'Please act'

A spokesperson for SYP said dangerous dogs placed "an unprecedented demand on police officers and resources".

"Already in 2024 we have had to seize over 300 dogs for various reasons, most often because they were deemed to be dangerously out of control or suspected to be a banned breed.

"These dogs have to be kennelled at the taxpayer's cost," the spokesperson said.

Ch Insp Emma Cheney, said: "No matter how long a dog has been part of your family, it can cause harm and injury.

"Animals can't express things to us, but understanding their behaviour, body language, what is normal and not normal, can prevent injury."

She added: "Please act. Please follow our advice, understand your dog and its behaviour, and seek help where necessary."