Sydney Children’s Hospital releases alarming dog attack statistics

New statistics have revealed pitbulls are Australia’s most dangerous dog, however, one other family favourite has accounted for an alarming amount of attacks.

A new report has revealed Australia’s most dangerous dog breeds, compiling statistics on attacks and hospitals admissions over a 10-year period.

The Sydney Children‘s Hospital (SCH) revealed one child is being admitted to a NSW hospital every week following a dog attack, with the average age being just five years old.

The data included 628 patients who were admitted with dog-related injuries from 2010 to 2020.

In the first three months of 2022, there were 1,027 reported dog bites and 69 canines euthanised in NSW alone.

Pitbulls (10.3 per cent) topped the list, followed closely by usually easy-going Labradors (8.5 per cent) and Rottweilers (6.8 per cent).

The list was rounded out by Bulldogs (6 per cent), Border Collie (6 per cent), Jack Russell (5.1 per cent), Terrier (other) (5.1 per cent), Kelpie (5.1 per cent), German shepherd (4.3 per cent).

The remaining 43 per cent were simply listed as “others”.

Pitbulls (10.3 per cent) topped the list for the most dog attacks in Australia.

Labradors, usually considered to be a docile and family friendly dog breed, placed second on the list of dog attacks.

Just last week, a three-year-old girl and her grandmother were hospitalised after a horrifying dog attack in Brisbane.

The two dogs, believed to be bull mastiffs, bit a three-year-old girl and a 64-year-old woman at a private residence in Algester about 7.10pm on Thursday.

The girl was rushed to Queensland Children‘s Hospital in a serious condition with chest, neck and facial injuries.

She was in a stable condition as of Friday night.

“The puncture wounds and the injuries to both the older lady and the three-year-old were quite significant.

“It sounds like it was it was a fairly intense attack by the dogs and it must have been horrifying for the people involved and who we’re looking on.”

Ambulance Services believe the dogs were known to the lady and three year-old girl.

A new report has revealed Australia’s most dangerous dog breeds, compiling statistics on attacks and hospitals admissions from 2022.

He also said they were told the dogs were bull mastiffs, but he was not sure if that was correct.

The reason for the attack was not clear, though Mr Tong said it was mentioned that it was “about that time of the night where the dogs were about to be fed”.

A man in his 60s was taken to the same hospital in a stable condition as well.

He was not bitten by the dogs but suffered back pain after falling off a 1.5m retaining wall during the attack.

Mr Tong said he believed the man was a neighbour who came to the girl and woman’s rescue.

“I think they (the man) were trying to get in to help and might have fallen from a fence,” he said.

A Brisbane City Council spokesperson said council had seized the two dogs.