Dog attack victim criticises slow police action

Warning: This story contains graphic images

A man who suffered serious leg injuries after being attacked by two dogs has criticised the time it took police to seize the animals.

Stephen Phillips from Caernarfon said it was five weeks before North Wales Police took the dogs from their owners.

The force said officers had to ensure correct methods were followed including applying for a court warrant to seize the dogs.

"They should have taken the dogs from there immediately," Mr Phillips told BBC News.

"They got me down on my knees but, luckily, I was able to get up or they would have gone for my neck.

"That could have been a child or an old person and we could have been talking about someone being killed."

In a statement, North Wales Police said: "We understand the concerns that can arise from an injury by a dog and we take investigations like this very seriously.

"In this situation, the police officers had to ensure that the correct methods were followed including applying for a court warrant to take the dogs, arranging appropriate kennels to accommodate them.

"It is necessary that these methods are followed before an animal can be taken following an incident."

The number of cases of dog attacks in the force area increased by 32% between 2021 and 2022.

Mr Phillips said he was attacked by two Patterdale terriers in April 2022 as he left a shop.

"I was walking back home and without any warning these two dogs came after me," he recalled.

"It was an extremely frightening and painful experience.

"Once a dog like that gets hold of you, it's very difficult to get them off.

"The owner of the dogs came out of the house to try to get them under control but by then it was too late.

"I just wanted to get out of there. I was in shock."

With blood flowing down his legs, Mr Phillips managed to get home before an ambulance was called.

He said he required two months of treatment.

In January, the owner was fined for keeping dogs that were out of control and ordered to pay costs and £350 in compensation to Mr Phillips.

He said banning dog breeds deemed dangerous was not the answer

"People need to be taught how to look after dogs responsibly," he said.