At a Glance
- A 47-year-old woman was arrested Friday after her dog allegedly bit two children on Halliwell Road, Bolton.
- The children were treated at a local hospital and discharged; the dog is now kenneled for assessment.
- A separate attack two days earlier saw another Bolton woman bitten by a different loose dog.
- Why it matters: The back-to-back incidents heighten local concern about dog control as U.K. dog attacks have risen 34% in five years.
Bolton police have arrested a woman following a dog attack that sent two children to hospital earlier this week, the second such incident in the area within days.
The Attack on Halliwell Road
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers were called to Halliwell Road at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, after reports of a loose dog biting children.
- Two juveniles sustained bite injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital.
- Both victims were later discharged after treatment.
- The dog was seized and placed in kennels for behavioral assessment.
On Friday, Jan. 9, detectives arrested a 47-year-old woman on suspicion of having a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. She remained in custody for questioning as of the latest update provided by News Of Losangeles.
Second Incident Two Days Later
A separate attack occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 7, when police received a call about an out-of-control dog on Wolfenden Street, close to Rawsthorne Park.
- A woman suffered minor bites and was treated at the scene.
- The dog was seized; one arrest was made.
- The arrested suspect was the dog’s owner, though not present during the attack.
GMP stressed that the two cases are unrelated and involve different dogs. Investigators are still working to identify the person walking the dog in the Jan. 7 incident.
Rising Dog-Attack Numbers
England and Wales have seen dog attacks climb 34% over the past five years, according to police data compiled by the BBC.
The increase has fueled debate around the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991. In December 2023, XL bully types were added to the banned breed list, making it illegal to breed, sell, abandon, or give away the dogs without a certificate of exemption. Owning an XL bully without an exemption became a criminal offense in February 2024.
Authorities have not disclosed the breeds involved in either Bolton attack.
What Happens Next
- The 47-year-old woman arrested Friday continues to assist police.
- Both dogs remain in kennels while assessments and legal proceedings progress.
- GMP urged anyone with information about the Jan. 7 walker to contact Bolton CID.
Key Takeaways:
- Two separate dog attacks in Bolton within one week resulted in hospital treatment for victims and two arrests.
- A 47-year-old woman is the latest suspect, held after children were bitten on Halliwell Road.
- Dog attacks across England and Wales have surged by more than a third in five years, intensifying public scrutiny of owners’ responsibilities.
