Using civil claim enquiry data to understand the context and impact of dog-related injuries in England and Wales between 2017 and 2024

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.