{
  "abstract": "Background Dog-related injuries, particularly bites, are a growing public health concern, yet context for effective prevention remains limited. This study takes a novel approach by analysing civil claims enquiry data to describe the context and impact of dog bite and non-bite incidents in England and Wales.Methods Descriptive analysis of anonymised civil claims enquiry data from 2017 to 2024. Demographic and injury consequences were compared between bite and non-bite incidents using Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests.Results 816 incidents were analysed; 91.3% were dog bites, 6.7% dog strikes. Bites (n=745) occurred at private residential properties (52.8%) or on public highways or pavements (22.8%). Non-bite incidents (n=70) were in public spaces (48.6%) or public highways or pavements (25.7%). Delivery workers accounted for 28.1% of victims. Most dogs were off lead at the time of injury (78.8% bites, 85.7% non-bites). Fractures occurred in 72.7% (40/55) of non-bite incidents. Mental illness followed in 15.1% of bite cases and 10.0% of non-bites; 6.5% of individuals were clinically diagnosed with specific phobias, 4.1% with post-traumatic stress disorder. Work absence was reported in 59.5% of bites, while 54.3% reported lost earnings.Discussion Civil claims data offer valuable insights into the burden and context of dog-related injuries. Dog strikes, although less common, often result in severe injury. Most public incidents involved unrestrained dogs. This work provides emerging evidence of the psychological impact of dog-related injuries.Conclusions We present a novel methodology for contextual injury research and highlight the need to assess enforceable dog lead use on highways and public spaces.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "John Tulloch"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology, School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Gemma Ahearne"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Slee Blackwell Solicitors LLP, Taunton, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jasmine Moxey-Butler"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Slee Blackwell Solicitors LLP, Taunton, UK"
      ],
      "name": "James McNally"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Using civil claim enquiry data to understand the context and impact of dog-related injuries in England and Wales between 2017 and 2024",
  "uid": "2581d88f-fab1-58fd-bf76-e802d722eb2f"
}