'We don't ever expect our own dogs to bite... but every dog can'

SAFETY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED AS DATA REVEALS ONE IN SIX EAST MIDLANDS CHILDREN HAVE BEEN BITTEN BY A PET

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SHOCKING new figures show that one in six children in the East Midlands have been bitten by a pet.

A group of animal welfare organisations have revealed the data, which also shows more than 80 per cent of those bitten had to be seen by a doctor.

The survey, which polled more than 1,000 children aged seven to 11, found that 17 per cent of children in the East Midlands had been bitten by a pet, with 38 per cent of those bitten by a dog.

The incidents were severe enough that 81 per cent reported seeing a doctor.

Despite the animal welfare charities advising that children are not left unsupervised with their pet, the polling further revealed that 65 per cent of children in the East Midlands report being left alone with their pet at least once a week.

It comes as eight charities - RSPCA, USPCA, Scottish SPCA, Dogs Trust, PDSA, Blue Cross, Cats Protection and Woodgreen Pets Charity - working together under the umbrella of the Pet Education Partnership (PEP), have launched educational sessions to help children and young people stay safe around pets.