PEOPLE in Hull are being urged to avoid buying pets from back-street breeders as new figures show an increase in dog bite injuries.
A report by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) revealed the city is one of the worst areas in the country for dog bites and the rise has been linked to social deprivation.
In Hull, there were 85 admissions for dog bites and 55 in the East Riding.
The Hull figure represents 34.4 victims per 100,000 people, which is one of the highest in the country. The figure is 18.7 in the East Riding.
Nationally, figures show that in the 12 months to January, the rate of hospital admissions for dog bites in the 10 per cent most deprived areas averaged 1,240 compared with an average admission rate of 428 in the 10 per cent least deprived areas.
Val Wakeham, of Hessle Dog Rescue, believes people need to be careful where they buy dogs from and make sure they know what they are getting into.
She said: "This rise in dog bites is down to back-street breeders.
"During times of hardship, people often feel they can make a quick buck by breeding dogs.
"But this is not the case and then they find it difficult to sell the animals and look after them.
"Some people don't know what breed they are getting.
"One woman bought what she thought was an American bulldog, but I warned her it could be a pit bull, which are illegal.
"People in deprived areas are often naive and vulnerable."
Ms Wakeham also warned people about mixing very young children and dogs.
She said: "No dog should ever be left with a baby. Puppies may be cute but, like children, they grow up.
"If you live in cramped conditions then any dogs and children are going to be very close together.
"Children may try to stroke the dog, which could then turn aggressive.
"We have a policy of not rehoming dogs with families who have children under five years of age."
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed there has been a rise in people being treated for dog bites.
It is one of the most common injuries staff deal with at the plastics trauma clinic, which has been open just over a year, at Hull Royal Infirmary.
A spokesman for the trust said: "Anecdotally, we are seeing a rise in the number of people attending our plastics trauma clinic with such injuries."
The HSCIC report also shows admissions were highest in the summer months, while the age group up to nine-year-olds had the highest number of admissions.
The highest rates of admissions for dog bites and attacks was in Merseyside, with the lowest in Kent and Medway.
Kingsley Manning, chairman of the HSCIC, said: "The report shows hospital admissions for bites and attacks by dogs are three times as high in the most deprived areas of England as in the least deprived areas. This is fascinating new data that we haven't produced before."
